Clifford Law Offices Receives $10.5 Million Verdict for Pilot Killed in Palwaukee air Crash Case

A Cook County jury handed down a verdict today (May 5) of $10,450,000 for a pilot killed when a private jet crashed at takeoff at Palwaukee Municipal Airport Oct. 30, 1996.

Larry Koppie, 53, was in the left cockpit seat of a Gulfstream IV jet airplane with three others aboard when it crashed moments after taking off from the busy airport jointly owned and operated by the Village of Wheeling and the City of Prospect Heights.

The seven-man-five-woman jury deliberated just three hours before handing down the verdict following the five-week trial. The defendants at trial were the Village of Wheeling, the city of Prospect Heights, the Palwaukee Municipal Airport Commission and Alberto-Culver Company, owner and operator of the $28-million jet.

The jury found that the Airport defendants were 90 percent responsible for the crash. Alberto-Culver was found 5 percent liable and the remaining 5 percent was apportioned Koppie.

"We’re very gratified that the jury recognized that the Airport owners and operators had substantial responsibility for this tragic occurrence," said Richard Burke, Jr., partner at Clifford Law Offices who tried the case with John Karnezis. The evidence showed that the hazardous conditions of the terrain alongside the runway, including the presence of a drainage ditch, caused essential component parts of the aircraft to be ripped off the plane and rendered the aircraft uncontrollable.

"The verdict also reflects that the jury appreciated that Larry Koppie was not only a very experienced and respected pilot but also a great father to his three children."

The Gulfstream G-IV was taking off for California when the plane suddenly veered to the left of the center line. The plane went off the paved runway in 2.7 seconds and then encountered a drainage ditch running alongside the entire length of the one-mile Runway 16/34. The ditch, which was located in an area that was supposed to be flat and firm terrain for the safety of planes diverging from the runway, caused major structural damage to the aircraft, including the loss of both main landing gear, wing flaps and an aileron control cable. The aircraft briefly became airborne after it was launched by an earthen berm which also was located in the Runway Safety Area. The plane crossed Hintz Road outside of the airport property and burst into flames as its came to rest near an apartment complex.

Koppie, formerly of Elgin, was employed by Aon Aviation, Inc. Another pilot in the plane, Hampton Whitener, was employed by Alberto-Culver Company.

A flight attendant, Catherine Anderson, and insurance executive Arthur Quern, a senior executive of Chicago-based Aon Corp., also died in the crash.