He Crashed His Ultralight Into The Kankakee River

An ultralight pilot from Chenbanse, IL, hit a powerline and crashed the aircraft in the Kankakee River Sunday night. It was determined he had a blood alcohol level over .04, the federal limit for operating an aircraft.

Witnesses told the Kankakee Daily Journal that the pilot, 45-year-old Jeffery J. Piontkowski, was flying low over the river and struck the lowest of a group of wires in his path. The aircraft, a Challenger LSS, impacted the water upside down near a marina. One of the witnesses, Sheriff's Office Detective Todd Huntly, called 911 and then went with another rescuer in a boat to the crash site. They pulled the plane to shallow water, and cut Piontkowski out of his safety harness with a utility knife.  Huntley said Piontkowski was coughing up blood and sand. He broke both legs and possibly collapsed a lung in the accident.

No alcohol was found in the plane, but Huntley said he noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from Piontkowski.

Kankakee County District Attorney Jamie Boyd said he plans to bring the case before a grand jury in the next two weeks, and that he expects charges will be filed.

The incident will be investigated by the FAA and NTSB.

FMI: www.faa.gov., www.ntsb.gov