Accident Overview
On April 19, 2025, at 1016 central daylight time, a Cessna 180G, registration N4679U, was destroyed when it struck power lines and impacted terrain near Trilla, Illinois. The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The aircraft was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight History
According to flight tracking data, the airplane departed its home base in Menomonie, Wisconsin, on April 16, 2025, on a visual flight rules cross-country flight to Muhlenberg County Airport (M21) in Greenville, Kentucky. The pilot purchased 42 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel at M21 before continuing to John C. Tune Airport (JWN) in Nashville, Tennessee.
On the day of the accident, the pilot returned to M21 to retrieve a purse left behind by a passenger. After purchasing an additional 12.81 gallons of fuel, the pilot departed northbound. Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data indicated the airplane was proceeding toward Mattoon, Illinois.
Witness Accounts
A witness who was repairing a roof reported hearing an airplane overhead. He described the engine sound as “unusually low,” similar to that of a crop duster. The engine noise then increased as if the airplane was attempting to climb at the end of a low pass. The witness heard an explosion and observed a fireball beyond the tree line. He noted that rain had recently stopped but it was “misting” at the time of the accident. Surveillance video from a nearby location showed overcast clouds and light rain.
Wreckage Examination
The airplane came to rest on a county road about 8 nautical miles south of Coles County Memorial Airport (MTO) in Mattoon, Illinois. Examination of the accident site revealed that the aircraft struck power lines approximately 35 feet high before hitting the ground. The debris path extended roughly 100 feet along a 227° magnetic heading. The wreckage was highly fragmented, with all major components located within the debris field. Flight control continuity was confirmed to all surfaces through breaks consistent with tension overload. The engine was found partially buried in a crater about 3 feet deep and sustained heavy impact damage. The wreckage was recovered for further examination.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He did not possess an instrument rating. A review of his logbook as of October 2024 indicated approximately 300 hours of total flight experience.