Mount Carroll, IL – Two people from Mississippi are recovering after their small plane crashed and caught fire in a cornfield south of Mount Carroll on Sunday morning, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the crash happened around 10:45 a.m. October 5 near Apple Hill Road. The aircraft reportedly went down while attempting to land at a private airstrip, bursting into flames shortly after impact.
According to the sheriff’s office, the pilot, identified as Patrick Carson, 52, of Madison, Mississippi, and passenger Anna Griffin, 41, of Meridian, Mississippi, were able to escape the burning plane before emergency crews arrived. Firefighters from multiple departments quickly extinguished the blaze.
Initial reports suggest the pilot experienced difficulty landing due to strong wind gusts, causing the plane to veer off course and crash into the field. Carson was treated at the scene for minor injuries, while Griffin was airlifted to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford with non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been treated and released, according to the updated statement from the sheriff’s office on Monday.
Multiple agencies, including the Mount Carroll Police and Fire Departments, AirCare Helicopter, and the National Transportation Safety Board, assisted at the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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