Pilot identified after Wisconsin plane crash kills six aboard small aircraft
A small plane crashed in a wooded area near Dellona, Wisconsin, on Tuesday night, killing all six people aboard. The pilot, 63-year-old Ronald Riek, has been identified; the other four adults and one child have not. The crash has prompted an investigation into the aircraft’s final flight and whether weather contributed.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the Piper PA-46 was at 24,000 feet when Riek reported icing and asked to descend. A local airport commission chairman said the plane encountered a thunderstorm and described Riek as an experienced pilot and successful local businessman. Doorbell footage captured sounds as the aircraft fell; no one on the ground was hurt and nearby homes were undamaged.
- Pilot Ronald Riek, 63, was among six killed in a Wisconsin plane crash.
- He reported icing and requested a descent at 24,000 feet.
- Investigators are examining the crash and possible weather factors.
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The Piper PA-46 is a small, single-engine aircraft often used for private travel. Dellona is in south-central Wisconsin, where wooded areas and scattered homes can make a crash site difficult to reach.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates US civil aviation accidents, including the aircraft, its flight path and the weather. Ice can build up on an aircraft in flight and affect how it handles, while thunderstorms can bring turbulence and other hazards.
Investigators use evidence such as flight records, aircraft wreckage and weather information to understand what happened. Their findings may help clarify the cause and inform aviation safety.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Pilot named as first victim of Midwest plane crash that killed six… as horrifying doorbell recording of death plunge emerges”.