Plane Was On Nighttime IFR Flight 

Authorities have identified the victims of a fatal aircraft accident in Northwestern Wisconsin last week.

The Sheboygan Press reports Laurence and Vicki Berg were flying their 2008 Cirrus SR20 to New Richmond when the single-engine aircraft went down near Menomonie Friday night. Also onboard the plane was Brett Weller, described by authorities as a family friend.

All three were killed in the accident. The plane, owned by the Bergs, was on an IFR flight plan from Sheboygan to New Richmond. According to tracking data available at FlightAware.com, the aircraft (type shown below) descended out of 7,000 feet to 4,500 in less than a minute.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board were on scene Saturday, to collect the wreckage. Debris was strewn throughout an area measuring 150 by 400 yards, the Press reported.

"Obviously we are in the very preliminary stages of investigation," said Jim Silliman, Air Safety Investigator for the NTSB out of Chicago. "We are doing wreckage documentation and a diagram of the wreckage site. The impact and going through the ravine and woods did create significant structural damage to the aircraft."

Stillman said the Board would consider a number of factors in the accident, including weather conditions at the time of the crash, as well as cloud levels.

"We do know people at the site shortly after impact saw there was a glow off the clouds," Silliman added.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 495LV        Make/Model: SR20      Description: SR-20
  Date: 01/31/2009     Time: 0337

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: MENOMONIE   State: WI   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  LOST RADAR CONTACT DURING DESCENT, AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOW
  CIRCUMSTANCES 4 MILES NORTH OF MENOMONIE, WI

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: EAU 310345Z 19003KT 10SM OVC013 M12/M17

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Descent      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI  (GL13)                 Entry date: 02/02/2009

FMI: www.ntsb.gov