Six people, including a child, died late Tuesday night when a single-engine aircraft went down in a densely wooded area of rural Wisconsin. The tragedy unfolded just before 10 p.m. near Mirror Lake State Park in the Town of Dellona, a quiet community located roughly 40 miles northwest of Madison.
The aircraft was a fixed-wing Piper PA-46, commonly known as a Piper Mirage. According to tracking data and local authorities, the flight originated at Kenosha Regional Airport and was heading toward Menomonie. Shortly before the crash, the pilot had established contact with a nearby air traffic control tower. Then, communication ceased as severe weather swept through the region.
The Timeline and Emergency Response
Local dispatchers received multiple emergency calls around 9:30 p.m. reporting a downed aircraft. The Sauk County Sheriff's Office, along with local fire departments, state patrol units, and emergency medical personnel, rushed to the remote site.
Responders faced difficult conditions navigating the dense woods in the dark, compounded by active rainfall and thunderstorms moving across the area. When deputies finally located the wreckage, they confirmed that all six occupants—five adults and one child—perished upon impact.
Authorities confirmed that no structures on the ground were damaged and no bystanders were injured. The site was immediately secured to allow federal inspectors to begin their work.
Ongoing Federal Investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have taken charge of the investigation. Investigators are currently focusing on two major factors:
- Radio Transmissions: Technicians are reviewing final communications between the pilot and air traffic control to assess any distress signals or reported mechanical issues.
- Weather Conditions: Local radar logs show thunderstorms and heavy rain active in the region at the exact time of the flight, prompting investigators to look closely at whether severe weather played a critical role in the tragedy.
As of Wednesday, official identities of the victims have not been released pending family notifications. The NTSB expects to issue a preliminary report within a few weeks, though a comprehensive determination of the crash's exact cause could take several months.
If you or someone you know has relevant information regarding the flight path or heard the aircraft prior to the crash, local law enforcement encourages you to contact the Sauk County Sheriff's Office directly.
