Wittman W-8 | N9424H
February 14th, 2026 | Poplar Grove, Illinois
Accident Location
- City: Poplar Grove
- State: Illinois
- Latitude: 42.310222
- Longitude: -88.839497
- Airport ID: C77
Aircraft Info
- N Number: N9424H
- Make: Wittman
- Model: W-8
- Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built: Yes
Pilot Info
- PIC Name: McClung, Richard Clarke
- Gender: Male
- Pilot Age: 83
- Pilot Hours:
- Flight School: No
- Instructional Flight: No
- Pilot Certification: Commercial Pilot
- IFR Rating: Yes
- Pilot Error: Yes
- Pilot Medical: Basic Med
- Pilot Incapacitation: No
Analysis
- Date: February 14th, 2026
- Time: 6:00 PM Local Time
- Day / Night: Day
- VMC / IMC: VMC
- Phase Of Flight: Approach
- Total People Onboard: 1
- PIC Fatality: 1
- PAX Fatalities: 0
- Ground Fatalities: 0
- Total Fatalities: 1
- NTSB No:
- NTSB Travel: Unknown
- AQP Classification: 10b) SUICIDE, C-FIT
Probable Cause
DTSB: The DTSB determines the cause of this accident to be Pilot Suicide. The accident pilot lived in Rockford, Illinois but flew to this location after being served another new civil lawsuit regarding sexual abuse stemming from a string of similar LDS child abuse cases in the past. The accident pilot did intentionally dive his aircraft into a residence located at 328 Spring Meadow Drive, Poplar Grove, Illinois. The name of the resident at this address or the relationship to the accident pilot has not yet been released.
NTSB: NONE
Recommendation
DTSB: Pending.
NTSB: NONE
DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.