Full Breakdown
Six Killed, Including a Child, in Sauk County Plane Crash
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Crash Details
On Tuesday night, October 13, 2026, a six-seat Piper PA-46 (also reported as a Piper Meridian) crashed in a wooded area near Mirror Lake State Park in the Town of Dellona, Sauk County, Wisconsin. The aircraft was returning from Kenosha Regional Airport to Menomonie when the pilot reported ice building on the wings at 24,000 feet. After receiving clearance to descend, the plane entered a right-turning descent and communications were lost. All six occupants—five adults and one child—were found deceased. No structures were damaged and no one on the ground was injured.
Timeline
- October 13, 2026 – Departed Kenosha Regional Airport around 8:45 p.m. on a scheduled return to Menomonie.
- ? 9:30 p.m. – Sauk County dispatch received reports of a downed aircraft near Park Lane in Dellona.
- Shortly before 10 p.m. – The plane crashed north of Park Lane, west of Herwig Road, close to Mirror Lake State Park.
- October 14, 2026 – First responders located the wreckage, confirmed six fatalities, and secured the site. The FAA and NTSB began on-scene investigations; the crash site remained closed through midday.
Data & Statistics
- Occupants: 6 (5 adults, 1 child) – confirmed by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office.
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46, six-seat, single-engine.
- Altitude at icing report: 24,000 feet.
- Weather: Rain and a thunderstorm; ice accumulation on the wings was cited as a major hazard.
- Investigating agencies: FAA and NTSB (preliminary report expected within 30 days; final report within 12–24 months).
Official Statements & Responses
Sheriff Chip Meister said the crash resulted in “multiple individuals… confirmed deceased” and that victim identities are being withheld until families are notified. Captain Matt Burch noted the aircraft had been in contact with a nearby air-traffic-control tower before the accident and that investigators are reviewing those transmissions. The NTSB will examine the pilot’s actions, the aircraft’s condition, and the operating environment, while the FAA will assist with data collection and safety analysis.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Number of occupants: Early reports varied between “five to six” and “as many as six” before the manifest was verified.
- Aircraft designation: Described both as a Piper PA-46 and as a Piper Meridian; the exact model has not been definitively confirmed.
- Victim identities: No names, ages, or genders have been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Prior to the crash the aircraft was reported to be in contact with a nearby air traffic control tower,” — Matt Burch, sheriff’s office captain
- “At this time, multiple individuals have been confirmed deceased,” — County Sheriff Chip Meister