What happened
On April 19, 2025, a Cessna 180G, registration N4679U, crashed near Trilla, Illinois, resulting in 4 fatal injuries to the pilot and three passengers. The aircraft was operating under Part 91 as a personal flight.
Prior to the accident, the aircraft had flown from Menomonie, Wisconsin, to Greenville, Kentucky, on April 16, 2025. On the day of the accident, the pilot returned to Muhlenberg County Airport (M21) to retrieve a passenger's forgotten item. After refueling, the aircraft flew northbound toward Mattoon, Illinois.
At approximately 10:16 central daylight time, a witness on a nearby roof reported hearing an airplane with an unusually low engine sound. The witness noted the engine noise increased as if the plane were attempting to climb, followed by an explosion and a fireball visible beyond the tree line. Weather at the time included overcast clouds, mist, and light rain, with visibility at 8 statute miles and winds at 310 degrees at 19 knots.
The aircraft came to rest on a county road approximately 8 nautical miles south of Coles County Memorial Airport (MTO). The wreckage was highly fragmented, and the debris path spanned roughly 100 feet on a 227-degree magnetic heading. The investigation determined the airplane struck power lines approximately 35 feet in height before impacting the ground.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage confirmed flight control continuity to all surfaces, with breaks consistent with tension overload. The engine was heavily damaged and found partially buried in a 3-foot-deep crater. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating but did not possess an instrument rating. As of October 2024, the pilot had approximately 300 hours of total flight experience.