UPDATE: The pilot of the plane that crashed Wednesday afternoon in Brookfield has passed away.
Froedtert Hospital says he passed away Wednesday evening at the hospital. 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 has asked for privacy during this difficult time.
Around noon Wednesday, police said a single engine airplane was attempting to take off when it ran off the runway. The plane crashed into a parked SUV with an attached trailer.
"The airplane itself appears to have significant damage," said Capt. Phil Horter with the Brookfield Police Department.
Police and fire crews arrived on scene to find three occupants of the mangled plane, a Virginia family that was in town visiting for the holidays.
The pilot, a 41-year-old man, and his 37-year-old wife were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
"I believe all of the patients were conscious,” said Horter.
Police say their 6-month-old baby was in the back of the plane in a child seat.
"The infant did not appear to be injured at all, but was taken to the hospital to be checked out," said Horter.
Horter said some of the victims were taken to the hospital by Flight for Life, others were taken by ambulance.
Chris Adams owns a small business across the street from the airport. He came back from lunch to a flood of police, fire crews and first responders covering the rural airport's property.
"Coming back from lunch it was really, really windy so I imagine that doesn’t help when you’re in a small experimental type of aircraft," he said.
Police said the cause of the crash is unknown at this time, however preliminary stages of the investigation are underway.
"I just hope everyone is OK I mean that’s obviously the first priority especially the infant and the family up there," said Adams.
Brookfield investigators reconstructed the crash Wednesday afternoon. The FAA will conduct its own investigation.
