A small aircraft crash in central Illinois claimed four lives Saturday morning after the plane collided with power lines and crashed into a rural field near Trilla, Coles County, according to authorities.
Incident Overview
The Illinois State Police and Coles County Sheriff’s Office reported the crash occurred around 10:15 a.m. local time along County Line Road, approximately three miles south of Mattoon and about 200 miles south of Chicago. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified the aircraft as a Cessna 180, a single-engine plane.
According to officials, the aircraft hit a set of power lines before descending into an open field. Debris from the plane was scattered across the area, including parts that landed on the road. The area remained closed through Sunday for investigation.
Victims Identified
The Coles County Coroner confirmed that all four occupants—two men and two women—were residents of Menomonie, Wisconsin. They were identified as:
- Ross Nelson, 46
- Michael Morrow, 48
- Raimi Rundle, 45
- Courtney Morrow, 36
No additional injuries were reported in the area.
Eyewitness Account
Local resident Kynnedi Goldstein, who spoke with CBS News Chicago, described hearing a loud crash followed by a brief power outage:
“I was sitting in my room… and all of a sudden I hear this noise. It’s like the whole ‘boom,’ and then our power went out for a second… I looked out, and there was a huge pile of smoke.”
She said she and a friend went to the crash site after witnessing the smoke.
Response and Investigation
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a statement via social media on Saturday:
“My administration is monitoring the situation as we keep those impacted by the plane crash in our thoughts today. Thank you to the first responders who rushed to the scene.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB have launched a joint investigation. An NTSB investigator arrived at the scene on Sunday to document wreckage and begin analysis. The aircraft will be transported to a secure facility for further examination.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, per NTSB protocol.
Sources: Illinois State Police, Coles County Sheriff’s Office, CBS News Chicago, FAA, NTSB, Governor JB Pritzker (via social media)
