PLANE CRASH

4/23/25

Four people from Wisconsin were killed in the crash of a small plane near Mattoon Saturday morning.

Illinois State Police report the crash occurred at approximately 10:15am on Coles County Road 1400 North in Trilla, approximately three miles south of Mattoon.  Preliminary information indicated that the Cessna C180G airplane went down after it struck power lines.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating the cause of the crash. All four occupants were pronounced dead on scene.  The aircraft remained in the roadway with the roadway closed until 5pm Sunday.

Coles County Coroner Ed Schniers identified those killed as 46-year-old Ross R. Nelson, 45-year-old Raimi A. Rundle, 36-year-old Courtney L. Morrow, and 48-year-old Michael H. Morrow.

Illinois State Police were assisted in the investigation by the Coles County Sheriff’s Office, Mattoon Police Department, Mattoon Fire Department, and the Lincolnwood Fire Department.