23-year-old pilot killed in crop duster crash

OREGON, Ill. — The pilot of a crop-dusting plane lost his life July 22 when his plane crashed near the Ogle County Airport, between Oregon and Mt. Morris.

Alexander Leamon, 23, of Lena, died in the 9:36 a.m. accident, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said.

“When we arrived on scene, there was a crop duster that was fully engulfed on the north side of Illinois Route 64,” VanVickle said.

After hitting the power lines, the small plane came to rest on the north side of the state highway in a corner of a cornfield located near the driveway of Aframe Family Greenhouse west of Oregon.

Mt. Morris Fire Chief Rob Hough said his department responded to the scene at 9:41 a.m., within four minutes of the call.

“We found the plane upside down and on fire,” Hough said. “We extinguished the fire and were able to find out what chemicals the plane was carrying.”

VanVickle said seven power poles were impacted because of the crash, causing electrical outages for some people in that area. Comcast’s Xfinity transmission lines were also impacted resulting in outages for some customers.

Hough said radios went down briefly due to the power outage caused by the crash.

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A ComEd worker assesses damage to power lines along Illinois Route 64 following a single-plane accident near the Ogle County Airport between Oregon and Mt. Morris on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The pilot of a crop-dusting plane was killed after hitting power lines near the airport. A section of Illinois Route 64 was closed for ComEd crews to repair the damage. (Earleen Hinton)

“The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was located deceased within the wreckage shortly after the fire was brought under control,” VanVickle said.

Authorities blocked off a section of Route 64 between Mt. Morris and Oregon for most of the day before reopening the road at night.

The small airport is located on the south side of the state highway and has one grass runway that runs west to east, parallel with the state highway.

Hough said the accident could have been worse if the plane had hit a vehicle traveling on the busy highway.

The greenhouse, located about 25 yards from the plane’s wreckage, was open at the time of the crash.

Hough said a customer at the greenhouse heard a crash and saw wreckage when they looked out.

VanVickle said an investigation of the crash will be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.

He said the plane would remain at the scene until the federal investigation is complete.