Six Killed in Late-Night Piper Meridian Crash in Sauk County
A six-passenger Piper Meridian crashed in a wooded area in the Town of Dellona, Wisconsin, on Tuesday night, killing all five adults and one child on board. The aircraft, which departed Kenosha Regional Airport at 8:45 p.m. for Menomonie, lost contact with air traffic control shortly before the incident. The FAA and NTSB are jointly investigating the cause, while victims' identities remain unreleased pending family notification.
Key points
- All six occupants of the aircraft died in the crash, which occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. near Park Lane in the Town of Dellona, west of Wisconsin Dells.
- The crashed aircraft was identified as a single-engine, six-seat Piper Meridian that had departed Kenosha Regional Airport at 8:45 p.m. for a return trip to Menomonie.
- The Sauk County Sheriff's Office confirmed the plane was in contact with an air traffic control tower prior to the crash, though the nature of that communication is under investigation.
- The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and are assisting in the investigation; it is currently unclear if weather played a role.
- Victim identities have not been released pending family notification, though authorities confirmed the group consisted of five adults and one child.
Background
This incident follows a series of recent aviation incidents in Wisconsin, including a Beechcraft crash near East Troy in September and a water landing by a gubernatorial candidate in Lake Wausau. The deadliest aviation accident in Wisconsin history remains the 1948 Northwest Orient Airlines crash in Fountain City, which killed 37 people.
How outlets are covering it
The Washington Post and The New York Times initially reported the crash with limited details, noting that the number of victims and aircraft type were unclear. Channel 3000 and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provided more specific information, identifying the aircraft as a Piper Meridian and confirming the victim count as five adults and one child. All sources agree that the FAA and NTSB are involved in the investigation, but only the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explicitly noted that it is unclear if weather played a role in the crash.
Why it matters
The crash highlights ongoing concerns about general aviation safety in rural areas and the critical role of federal agencies in investigating fatal incidents. The involvement of the NTSB and FAA underscores the importance of thorough investigations to prevent future accidents, especially in regions with active air traffic control.
What to watch
The FAA and NTSB will continue their joint investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Authorities are expected to release the identities of the victims once families have been notified. Further details regarding the air traffic control communication and potential weather factors may emerge as the investigation progresses.
- Plane crashes near Wisconsin Dells, killing all 6 on board The Washington Post
- Five adults, one child dead in Sauk Co. plane crash Channel 3000
- Authorities believe 5 to 6 people were aboard plane that crashed in Sauk County WKOW
- 6 Dead in Wisconsin Plane Crash The New York Times
- What we know, and don't know, about the fatal Sauk County plane crash Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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