Plane nose-dives into home, killing pilot and coming just short of sleeping couple

An elderly couple in Chicago have had a close call after a small cargo plane nose-dived into their home, killing the pilot.

The couple were in their South Knox Avenue bedroom early Tuesday morning when the twin-engine plane catapulted into their living room, coming within 20 centimetres from where they were sleeping.

“They were in a bedroom next to the living room, and the living room is gone,” Chicago fire Chief Michael Fox said. “Eight inches away. They were very lucky.”

The pilot, 47-year-old Eric Quentin Howlett, had just taken-off from Chicago’s Midway International Airport at about 2.45am bound for Chicago Executive Airport in Illinois.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot reported engine problems shortly after take-off and was attempting to get back to the airport before he crashed into the home.

The elderly residents, Roberta and Ray Rolinskas were shaken up but completely unharmed.

“They’re okay,” the couple’s son, Rick Rolinskas told CBS. “All the neighbours have been real nice to us. We’re just trying to get all the valuables out, and clothes, and get organised, and see where we’ve got to go from here.”

Mr Rolinskas said his parents had lived in the home for 55 years.

The cause of the crash is not yet known, a preliminary report on the incident will be released in a week.