On Saturday morning, April 19, 2025, a tragic plane crash occurred near Trilla, Illinois, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals on board. The single-engine Cessna C180G aircraft crashed around 10:15 a.m. local time after striking power lines and descending onto County Road 551-587, approximately three miles south of Mattoon and near the Coles County Memorial Airport.
The victims, identified as two men and two women, were residents of Menomonie, Wisconsin. Their identities have not been publicly released pending notification of their families. The Coles County Coroner, Ed Schniers, confirmed that all occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud boom followed by a brief power outage and observed smoke rising from the crash site. The impact caused debris to scatter across the roadway, necessitating the closure of the area to the public.
Emergency responders, including the Coles County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), promptly arrived at the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Preliminary reports suggest that the aircraft struck power lines before crashing.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his condolences on social media, stating, "Terrible news out of Coles County. My administration is monitoring the situation as we keep those impacted by the plane crash in our thoughts today." He also thanked the first responders for their swift action.
The crash site remains under investigation, with authorities urging the public to avoid the area. Further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
