Highland Park Businessman Had Cocaine in System During Fatal Plane Crash: Report

A 53-year-old Highland Park businessman had cocaine in his system when he crashed a plane in Florida in 2014, killing himself, his teenage daughter and seriously injuring her teenage friend, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report.

Jeffrey Bronken, of Round Lake and owner of The Glass Man Inc. in Highland Park, crashed his Piper PA-28-181 into power lines at about 4 a.m on March 22, 2014, 8 miles short of the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, according to authorities. The NTSB report also notes “Inadequate fuel planning” likely lead to a “total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion,” according to the Lake County News Sun.

“Impairment from cocaine likely affected his preflight fuel planning abilities and en route fuel management,” the according to the report.

The pilot’s daughter Katherine Bronken, 15, and her friend Keyana Linbo, were taken to a hospital following the crash. Katherine Bronken died days later and her father died in the crash, according to NBC Chicago.

Bronken’s plane took off from Campbell Airport in Grayslake around 6 p.m. The National Transportation and Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office are investigating. Bronden radioed a “fuel emergency” to air traffic control just before 4 a.m. and then radioed seconds later: “landing on the highway sir, fuel emergency,” according to an NTSB report.

The plane nosedived into the street in Florida after hitting the power lines.

The group was flying to Florida for spring break.

Neighbors told the Chicago Sun-Times that Bronken’s wife flew to Florida after being told of the crash. Bronken was licensed as a pilot in 2007. The Sun-Times also reports FAA records show the plane was registered to Bronken’s glass business. His company,The Glass Man Inc., installs custom-glass in homes.