Pilot reports wing icing before plane crashes in Wisconsin; 6 killed

An experienced pilot and five other people were killed when a six-seat plane crashed in a wooded area near Mirror Lake State Park in Wisconsin, US, on Tuesday night, after the pilot reported ice building up on its wings during a thunderstorm. The Piper PA-46 Malibu was flying from Kenosha to Menomonie when it lost contact with air traffic control shortly before 10pm.The pilot, identified as longtime aviator Ron Riek, was also a prominent local warehouse owner. Authorities have not yet released the names of the five other victims. No one on the ground was injured.According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot reported icing on the wings while flying at 24,000 feet (7,315 metres) and requested permission to descend. Air traffic control approved the request.The plane then began a right-hand descending turn. The rate of descent increased sharply before communications and tracking data were lost.