Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Jul 24, 2011 (3 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on July 24, 2011 near Rantoul, Illinois, United States with 3 fatalities. Cause: The pilot...
- Date: July 24, 2011
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Rantoul, Illinois, United States
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: The pilot did not maintain airplane control during takeoff with approaching thunderstorms, and chose to depart into adverse weather.
A privately operated Piper PA-46 took off from Rantoul in deteriorating weather as a storm front approached. It did not climb properly, turned south and struck powerlines and terrain, then burned. The pilot and both passengers were killed.