PIKE COUNTY — A small plane crashed Sunday night, Nov. 23, 2025, in Pike County, killing one person and injuring two others, authorities said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released additional information about the crash, but the person who died in the crash has not yet been identified.
The crash occurred around 9:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in a field north of Interstate 72, west of Exit 35, according to the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. The department was notified of the possible crash at 9:39 p.m. A deputy found a passenger along the interstate, and emergency personnel located the downed aircraft nearby.
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The aircraft was a four-seat, fixed-wing, single-engine Piper plane registered to the Indian River Flying Club in Rockledge, Fla. The FAA records show the plane made a round trip from Valkaria, Fla., to Tampa and back earlier that morning. Just before noon, it flew from Valkaria to Anniston, Ala., departing Anniston around 4:45 p.m. and heading for Quincy Regional Airport. Around 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, the plane was diverted to Pittsfield Penstone Airport, likely due to poor visibility.
The pilot reportedly made several unsuccessful attempts to land at Pittsfield before the crash. The plane carried one pilot and three passengers. Two passengers survived and were hospitalized, while one passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet identified those involved.
Piper planes are modern aircraft and feature turbocharged engines with high cruise speeds. The Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and Illinois State Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including local fire departments, ambulance services, and emergency management agencies from Pike, Adams, and Brown counties.
