Makings of a Sad Epitaph

The pilot of a Curtiss Wright P-40E WWII-Era fighter aircraft who lost his life in a 27 June 2023 accident at Hamilton, Montana’s Ravalli County Airport (HRF) has been identified as Paul Ehlen, founder and owner of Bloomington, Minnesota’s Precision Lens—a manufacturer of therapeutic, surgical, and pharmacological products germane to the field of ophthalmological medicine.

The aircraft in which Ehlen perished—a restored Curtiss Wright P-40E Warhawk—was registered to one of the deceased’s LLCs.  

The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) set forth in a post-accident statement:

“Coroner Steve Holton reported the RCSO is investigating a fatal plane crash at the Hamilton Airport that occurred Tuesday morning.

“Sheriff Holton said the pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft and was pronounced deceased on scene due to the impact of the crash.

“The pilot was an adult male from the Hamilton area. The FAA and NTSB have been notified and will determine the cause of the crash.

“The initial information indicates the crash occurred during or shortly after the plane took off from the airport.

“The RCSO will release the pilot's name after his family has the opportunity to notify their friends and loved ones.
“Sheriff Holton thanked the Hamilton and Corvallis Volunteer Fire Departments for their fast and professional responses.

“The RCSO extends our sincere condolences to the pilot's family and friends.

“Additional information will be released as the investigation continues.”

In a statement of its own, Precision Lens asserted: "Precision Lens is saddened by the passing earlier today of its founder Paul Ehlen. Paul had a passion for restoring and flying vintage military aircraft, and he was killed this morning when the single-engine P-40 he was flying back to Minneapolis suffered a mechanical failure on takeoff."

The statement continued: "Above all else, Paul was a family man, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children whom he loved so dearly.”

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will presently investigate the accident.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov