Newly released photographs from a federal investigation show the scene of a plane crash that killed Claude Sonday, 75, of Bull Valley, (inset) near Galt Airport in unincorporated Wonder Lake, which Sonday owned. | Provided Photos
The NTSB has released investigation files on the airplane crash that killed a 75-year-old man, who owned Galt Airport, near Wonder Lake.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Wonder Lake Fire Protection District and Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District responded around 5:15 p.m. on November 25, to Galt Airport, 5112 Greenwood Road in unincorporated Wonder Lake.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call for a single airplane crash near the airport.
The crash involved a model EA-300LC plane, which was owned by Claude Sonday, 75, of Bull Valley, the sheriff’s office said and records showed.
Firefighters at the scene reported the plane was approximately a quarter-mile east of the runway up against a tree.
Sonday, who was the sole occupant of the plane, was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said they contacted the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue the investigation.
A spokesperson for the NTSB told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that investigators were on site collecting information the day after the incident.
The crash occurred approximately a half-mile east of the airport in a wooded area, the spokesperson said.
Federal authorities removed the aircraft and transported it to an offsite facility for further analysis.
Sonday became the official owner of Galt Airport after purchasing it with his wife in 2013 at a foreclosure auction.
Words cannot fully express our profound sadness at the loss of our friend and owner of Galt Airport, Claude Sonday. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him. We will share information regarding service arrangements as it becomes available,” the airport said in a statement following the incident.
Over two years later, the NTSB released its investigation files earlier this month. The 15 files included a variety of data, analysis, photographs and interviews.
