Investigators zero in on possible cause of Wisconsin plane crash that killed 6
A Piper PA-46 Malibu crashed in Sauk County, Wisconsin, killing all six people on board, including a child. Investigators are examining whether ice on the wings contributed to a loss of control, but the NTSB has not determined an official cause.
The pilot was flying at 24,000 feet on Tuesday night when he reported ice building up and requested to descend. The plane then entered an increasingly sharp descending turn, with flight data showing a descent of up to 4,000 feet per minute and airspeed nearing 340 mph before tracking and communications were lost. Rain was falling as a thunderstorm passed through the area; no one on the ground was injured.
- Six people died when a small plane crashed in Wisconsin.
- The pilot reported ice on the wings before the descent.
- Investigators have not established the cause.
New here? Start with this
The Piper PA-46 Malibu is a small, pressurised aircraft designed to fly at high altitudes. At 24,000 feet, ice can build up on its wings and other surfaces, changing how air flows over them and making the aircraft harder to control.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates US aviation accidents and determines their causes, a process that can take months. Investigators will examine the plane, flight records and weather conditions; until their work is complete, the role of ice or the storm remains uncertain.