Dassault Falcon 50EX, N268TS, incident occurred on March 3, 2026, near Taylorville Municipal Airport (TAZ/KTAZ), Taylorville, Illinois

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N268TS

- History of Flight:
On March 3, 2026, at about 1431 local time, a Dassault Falcon 50EX, N268TS, registered to Expeditus Holdings LLC out of Jacksonville, FL, sustained unknown damage when it clipped a powerline while on approach to land at Taylorville Municipal Airport (TAZ/KTAZ), Taylorville, Illinois. The two pilots were not injured. The flight originated from an unknown location.

According to preliminary automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 1430:38, the jet was descending through 825 ft with a rate of 1100 feet per minute (fpm) about 3.5 miles north of the airport. At 1430:53, the jet was observed at 575 ft and descending 800 fpm about 2.55 miles north of the airport when it veered off course to the left and began a brief climb to 700 ft before descending back and continuing the final approach to runway 18.

Figure 1: ADS-B exchange data

The FAA reported: "Aircraft clipped a power line on landing damaging right slat, flap and gear door." and the rated the damage unknown, awaiting further clarification.

Using Google Earth Pro, I was able to determine that the jet went through a set of powerlines located in an open farm field about 2.54 miles north of runway 18. It appears that the flight crew immediately noticed this and started a climb before it got any worse.

The reported weather at KTAZ at 1415 included: calm wind, 7 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 600 ft AGL, temperature 8°C, dewpoint 6°C, and an altimeter setting was 30.05 inches of mercury.

The reported weather at KTAZ at 1435 included: calm wind, 7 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 600 ft AGL, temperature 8°C, dewpoint 6°C, and an altimeter setting was 30.05 inches of mercury. There were reports of a thunderstorm in the vicinity and distant lightning to the north and northwest.

- Weather:

METAR KTAZ 031955Z AUTO 12004KT 7SM OVC006 08/06 A3004 RMK AO2 T00750064 PWINO

METAR KTAZ 032015Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM OVC006 08/06 A3005 RMK AO2 T00750063 PWINO

METAR KTAZ 032035Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM VCTS OVC006 08/06 A3005 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND NW T00750061

METAR KTAZ 032055Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM TS OVC006 08/06 A3006 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND NW T00760063

- Google Earth Figures:

Below are some screenshots of the approach when the ADS-B KML file was ran through Google Earth Pro.

Figure 1: Captured ADS-B data ran through Google Earth

Figure 2: View of the approach from behind, note slight deviation to the left that was started with the brief climb.

Figure 3: Start of climb/deviation distance from airport.

Figure 4: Approach as seen from airport.

Figure 5: Close up view with 2 ground points that will be used in next figures.

Figure 6: Powerlines location and flightpath with "extended to ground" option disabled for easier viewing.

Figure 7: Another view of powerlines and jet path.