Pilot Dies at Hospital after Plane Crash

The pilot of the plane that crashed in Brookfield passed away Wednesday evening at Froedtert Hospital, according to Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin.

His wife remains hospitalized in critical condition. 

The couple’s son was treated at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and is in good condition.

The family asks for privacy during this difficult time.

A family of three, including an infant, were on board a small plane that crashed during take-off at an airport in Waukesha County.

The crash happened around noon Wednesday. The single engine plane went off the runway and crashed in to an unoccupied SUV.

“The airplane itself appears to have significant damage as does the parked vehicle and the trailer that was crashed in to,” said Captain Phil Horter with the Brookfield Police Department.

The family was heading home to Virginia after visiting family in Waukesha County for the holidays.

Miraculously their 6-month-old son, who was in a child seat, was not hurt.

“The infant did not appear to be injured at all, but was taken to the hospital to be checked out,” Horter said.

Jake Replogle, the owner of Jake’s Restaurant, which looks out on to the airport, says he's never seen anything like this happen.

“I happened to talk to someone who’s' been working with us for 20 plus years and they can't recall anything as well,” Replogle said.

Replogle saw the plane on the runway and left to run errands minutes before the crash.

“I ended up just seeing a plane out there just doing a routine warm up, thought nothing else of it,” Replogle said.

“I routinely see a lot less planes going in and out on days like this,” Replogle said.

The Brookfield Police Department handled the initial investigation, but it's now in the hands of the FAA and the NTSB. 

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