The crash was reported at approximately 9:31 p.m. on Tuesday in the Town of Dellona, the Sauk County Sheriff's Office said. Emergency crews found the wreckage in dense woods north of Park Lane and west of Herwig Road. All six occupants — five adults and one child — were found dead at the scene. The plane was on a return flight from Kenosha to Menomonie, both in Wisconsin.
The aircraft, a Piper PA-46, was flying at 24,000 feet when the pilot reported icing and asked to descend, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Air traffic controllers approved the request. The aircraft entered a descending right turn, with the rate of turn increasing until radio contact and tracking data were lost. Investigators are examining communications between the pilot and air traffic control, along with whether weather played a role.
The sheriff reported that the debris field extended less than 100 yards. No injuries to people on the ground or damage to structures were reported. Authorities have not released the occupants' identities or ages. The crash site remains secured, and the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will lead the investigation.