Six people, including a child, are dead in Wisconsin after a fixed-wing Piper plane on its way from Kenosha to Menomonie crashed into a densely wooded area near Wisconsin Dells on Tuesday night.
The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office released the names of the victims on Thursday, all from towns in Wisconsin:
Ronald R. Riek, 63, of WoodvilleTyler J. Harvey, 35, of CadottMary K. Brion, 67, of NelsonAmanda M. Haremza, 45, of AltoonaRylan Haremza, 13, of AltoonaKayla C. Turpin, 39, of Eau Claire
According to the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, reports came in of a Piper PA 46 plane that went down around 9:30 p.m. in the Town of Dellona. Authorities said first responders immediately began searching for survivors at the crash site north of Park Lane and west of Herwig Road.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane was flying at 24,000 feet when the pilot reported icing and requested to descend. Air traffic control then approved the descent, and the aircraft allegedly turned right while descending until communications and data tracking were lost.
The five adults and one child on board were all pronounced dead at the scene.
During a meeting Wednesday night, Menomonie Airport Commission Chairman Daniel Johnson identified Ron Riek as the pilot killed in the crash.
He opened the meeting by honoring the lives lost.
“I think we should take a moment of silence in memory of the deceased.”
Johnson says he’d known Riek for decades.
“He was simply a good man, a highly experienced pilot, and this is a tragedy,” Johnson said. “He’s been an active, enthusiastic local pilot. He was a businessman from Woodville, who had a very active warehousing business that was attractive and successful.”
Johnson said the plane “encountered a thunderstorm, a small thunderstorm, and crashed, and they all died last evening after dark.”
As investigators search for answers, Johnson pointed to some of the challenges the flight may have faced.
“The aircraft has a reputation of not doing well in thunderstorms,” Johnson noted.
Holding back tears, Johnson also reflected on another deadly plane crash that shook the community last year in Menomonie — he says Riek helped honor those victims.
“This is two fatal crashes in 18 months, and we’ve lost a lot of friends,” Johnson said.
The names of the other victims have not yet been released.
No buildings were damaged when the plane crashed and no people on the ground were injured, according to the sheriff’s office.
Neighbors reported hearing an engine going in and out just before the crash. One woman said, at one point, the plane was so close that she feared it was going to hit her home.
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin shared a statement about the crash Wednesday evening, saying, “Just devastating news coming out of Sauk County. My heart breaks for the six lives lost and all of their loved ones. I am keeping everyone impacted in my thoughts.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB are investigating.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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