Pilot Identified in Wisconsin Plane Crash That Killed Six

The pilot of a small plane that crashed in rural Wisconsin, killing all six people on board, has been identified as 63-year-old Ronald Riek. The crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in a wooded area near Dellona. Riek was pronounced dead at the scene along with four other adults and a child, whose identities have not yet been released.

Doorbell camera footage captured sounds from the plane as it fell from the sky. Daniel Johnson, chairman of the Menomonie Airport Commission, described Riek as "simply a good man" and "a highly experienced pilot" who had been an "active, enthusiastic local pilot." Riek was a businessman from Woodville and founded Woodville Logistics, a warehouse and distribution company, in 1994.

Johnson stated that Riek was flying his single-engine Piper PA-46 from Kenosha back to Menomonie when he encountered a thunderstorm. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Riek reported "icing and requested to descend" while the plane was at 24,000 feet. Icing can disrupt airflow over a plane's wings, potentially leading to loss of control.

Johnson noted that the aircraft Riek was piloting "has a reputation of not doing well in thunderstorms." The Sauk County Sheriff's Office reported that the aircraft was in contact with a nearby air traffic control tower moments before the crash. The NTSB, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration, is leading the investigation into the incident. No one on the ground was injured, and nearby homes were not damaged.

Flight tracking data captured the plane's abrupt descent after departing Kenosha Regional Airport shortly before 9 p.m. Riek had at least 1,500 hours of flying experience and held an airline transport pilot rating, according to FAA records. His love for flying was reportedly passed down to his son, Reuben, who recently obtained his pilot's license. Riek is survived by his wife, Lorri, and daughter, Rebecca.