The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report this Afternoon on the plane crash that killed Kewaunee business owner John Pagel, his son-in-law Steven Witcpalek, and pilot Nathan Saari last month in Indiana.
The Cessna 441 flew from Green Bay to Indiana the morning of February 22nd and was on a return Flight from Indianapolis early that evening when according to the report Saari deviated from the assigned heading and altitude. When he was questioned by the departure controller he said “the plane was out of control.” The report adds that when Saari tried to correct the plane, the aircrafts communication and radar was lost.
The crashed plane was found about 60 miles northwest from Indianapolis in a central Indiana farm field. There were no survivors.
The Pagel family owns and operates several area businesses including Pagel’s Pondersoa in Kewaunee, Ron’s Cheese in Luxemburg and the Cannery Public Market in Green Bay.