Six killed in Wisconsin plane crash after pilot reports ice buildup on wings

A small plane carrying five adults and one child crashed in Dellona, Wisconsin, after the pilot reported ice buildup on the wings. Dispatch records indicate the aircraft was returning from Kenosha to Menomonie when the descent began.

The National Weather Service had forecast scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms across southern Wisconsin on Tuesday evening, ahead of the incident. The FAA noted icing conditions can form when supercooled droplets contact surfaces on an aircraft.

According to FOX News Digital and local authorities, the pilot alerted air traffic control to the icing and requested a lower altitude before communications were lost. The NTSB and FAA later acknowledged the event as under investigation, with characteristics consistent with icing-related loss of control reported by investigators.

The crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. in the town of Dellona, Sauk County, near Park Lane, with a Piper PA-46 Malibu identified in initial reports. All six occupants were pronounced dead at the scene, including a 13-year-old child.

The official cause of the crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not released further details on potential contributing factors or the exact sequence of events. No additional information on injuries or aircraft specifics beyond those initial reported identifiers has been provided.