Plane Crash Into Home Misses Couple By Inches

An elderly couple was missed by mere inches when a small twin-engine plane crashed into their home.

The Aero Commander 500-B slammed into the front of the home in southwest Chicago at around 2.40am (7.40am GMT) on Tuesday, killing the pilot.

The aircraft crashed through the ground floor and into the basement, leaving about a third of the wreckage, including the tail, exposed outside.

Assistant Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Michael Fox said a couple asleep in the home was missed by "eight inches" (20cm).

"It's very lucky. They were in a bedroom next to the living room and the living room is gone," he said.

Both refused any medical attention and are reported to be unharmed.

Crews stabilised the house before recovering the body of the pilot, who has not been identified.

The pilot who was intending to fly to Columbus, Ohio, reported engine trouble shortly after taking off from Midway International Airport and asked to return to the airport.

The plane went down less than half a kilometre from the runway.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.