Testimony Continues in Lawsuit over Fatal Illinois Plane Crash

By Thomas Hall

Published on February 19, 2007

In the crash, Collins' Moravan Z242L collided with a Cessna 172P flown by student pilot Sharon Hock. The two aircraft collided as they were approaching Waukegan Regional Airport. Collins, Hock, and Collins' passenger, Herman Luscher, all died in the accident.

Optometrist Warren DeHaan testified Wednesday that he was mystified as to how Collins could have missed seeing the student’s plane in the final minute before the crash. Collins’ plane had been trailing Hock’s on essentially the same flight path.

Rebuttal witness William J. Edwards testified that Collins’ view of the other plane would have been obstructed by his instrument panel as he closed in on the aircraft.

A lawyer for Collins says transmissions with the tower reveal that Collins was trying to locate the Cessna in front of him seconds before the crash.

The trial before a U.S. district judge involves lawsuits filed by the families of all the victims against the Federal Aviation Administration. Attorneys for the families lay blame for the crash on the air-traffic controller; however, FAA lawyers say Collins was at fault.

Comment on this article →