What happened
During a repositioning flight traveling from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Atlanta, Georgia, an aircraft entered a fatal descent into a wooded area near a residential subdivision in Rockford, Illinois. Witnesses reported seeing the plane flying at a low altitude, positioned just above the treeline. The aircraft was observed performing a sharp left-hand turn with a bank angle estimated between 70 and 90 degrees. Following this maneuver, the plane abruptly reversed its direction into a steep right bank before descending into the trees.
There was only one person on board during the flight. The pilot was killed in the impact.
Findings
Official investigations identified several contributing factors to the accident. A primary factor was the pilot's lack of sleep, as the pilot had been awake for approximately 20 hours prior to the flight. Additionally, the investigation noted poor judgment and a misjudgment of clearance during the execution of an abrupt maneuver while turning to reverse direction. The sequence of events concluded with the aircraft colliding with trees during this maneuvering phase.