Home Was Impacted By One Of The Company's Airplanes Last Tuesday

An elderly couple who live near Chicago's Midway Airport have filed a lawsuit against Central Airlines Inc. after a small cargo plane belonging to the company impacted their home November 18.

Neither 82-year-old Roberta Rolinskas or her 84-year-old husband Raymond were physically injured in the accident, but local authorities say the plane only missed them by about 8 inches when it impacted their home while they slept. The pilot, 47-year-old Eric Howlett, was fatally injured in the accident, according to the online news site DNAInfo.com.

The Rolinskas' attorney Matthew Jenkins filed the suit Tuesday, saying that the couple has suffered "severe emotional distress" after the plane wound up in their bedroom on the Southside of Chicago. It also alleges that the airline "failed to execute a proper take-off ... a proper landing ... [and] to maintain sufficient altitude." The company also "failed to properly maintain the airplane ... inspect the airplane ... and control the airplane," but does not specifically name the pilot.

The aircraft, reported to be an Aero Commander 500, departed from Midway at 2:42 am on November 18 en route to Ohio State University Airport. The pilot reported an engine problem shortly after takeoff, and was attempting to return to Midway when the plane impacted the home about a quarter mile from the airport, according to the FAA.

(Aero Commander 500 pictured in file photo. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov