Six people died Tuesday night when a Piper PA 46 crashed in a wooded area of Sauk County, Wisconsin, near Mirror Lake State Park. Authorities identified the victims Thursday: pilot Ronald R. Riek, 63, of Woodville; Mary K. Brion, 67, of Nelson; her daughters Amanda M. Haremza, 45, and Kayla C. Turpin, 39; her grandson Rylan Haremza, 13, of Altoona; and Tyler J. Harvey. Three generations of one family were on board.
According to the NTSB, Riek reported icing at 24,000 feet and requested a descent. The aircraft then made a descending right turn that increased in rate until communications were lost. Neighbors near the crash site described hearing engines sputtering and cutting in and out before a loud impact. No one on the ground was injured and no buildings were damaged.
Riek was remembered as an experienced pilot and a community-minded business owner who took part in local fundraising efforts. In-flight icing remains one of the most serious hazards for small aircraft, and investigators will spend months determining exactly what role it played here. For families across the Suncoast with ties up north, this story is a reminder of how quickly a routine flight can turn. Have you reached out to family in the Midwest this week?
