Illinois plane down

[Sport Pilot]

CRASH August 12, 2023

Reports indicate many individuals noted a small plane was having engine troubles and just when the aircraft was over the tree line, the pilot turned the plane and it immediately went in.

The pilot died and there is an ongoing investigation.

Fatal plane crash claims one life near Virden Illinois

One person has died in a plane crash near Verdin, Illinois, which is located about an hour north of St. Louis.

fox2now.com

 

[Flying Keys]

ADS-B shows it was a Vans RV-14, N6161. Departed Litchfield (3LF) 9 minutes prior. Was cruising between 4000 and 4500 at about 150kts groundspeed, then suddenly plunged. The terminal descent from about 4200’ took 45 seconds and was between 9,000 and 15,000 feet per minute at points. The groundspeed got very low, my guess is that it was due to the steep dive, but flattened out a bit for the last few pings.

Weather observations don’t show much. A line of weather had moved through the area several hours earlier, but the reports from IJX SPI and 3LF (surrounding the flight path) were all CAVU at the time.

 

[Sport Pilot]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. It is always sad to hear stories like this.

 

[mandm]

RIP

 

[frfly172]

Sad RIP