Haley Hansen

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MILWAUKEE — National Transportation Safety Board investigators said Sunday there was a discussion between the pilot of a Cessna airplane and air traffic controllers about “local weather phenomenon.” Soon after, the aircraft dropped off radar and crashed, killing six.

"We're dealing with things that people just don't want to talk about or see," Price County Sheriff Brian Schmidt told local media.

The Price County Sheriff’s Office said the airplane crashed at 3:21 a.m. CT Saturday near the north Wisconsin city of Phillips. The plane was found near State Highway 111 and U.S. Highway 8 in the town of Harmony.

Authorities did not release how many people died in the crash until Sunday.

According to WSAW-TV, the plane was a Cessna 421 and investigators said the pilot was certified to fly it.

The victims were all adults, Price County Sheriff's Lt. Gabe Lind said Sunday. No names have been released.

However, two of the plane's passengers were identified in a Facebook post from Tioga Elementary School in Bensenville, Ill., a community just southwest of O'Hare International Airport. The post announced the death of physical education teacher Thomas DeMauro and a maintenance director for the district, Charles Tomlitz.

"Mr. DeMauro and Mr. Tomlitz will be missed by all the Tioga Community," the school's co-principals wrote in the post.

As of Sunday evening, more than 250 people shared the post and nearly 100 had commented. Parents and former students mourned the loss of the two men. Many remembered the two for their positive outlooks and friendliness.

The sheriff’s office said the plane had left from the Chicago area and was heading to Canada on a fishing trip.

The National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and the sheriff's office are investigating the crash.

Lind said the department received help finding the main part of the wreckage from a private citizen with a helicopter. Members of the Prentice, Phillips, Kennan-Georgetow, Catawba-Harmony, Ogema, Fifield and Hawkins fire departments also responded to the crash.

"There was a lot of people who volunteered to help with the search and rescue," he said.

WSAW-TV in Wausau reported that others in the community helped another way.

Sandy Jensen owns Happy Daze bar and restaurant in the Village of Kennan, near the crash site. When firefighters called her restaurant for help, she told WSAW she knew just what to do.

"Made up 35 burgers, cheeseburgers, and fresh cheese curds we sent over, and some parade candy, because it's the Fourth of July," Jensen said.

"It's just what people should do," Jensen told WSAW. "That's what the world's all about is people helping people. When people have hard times, we've been in hard times and our community has helped us, and it's just the right thing to do."

Lind said the sheriff's office might provide additional updates on the crash investigation Monday.

Follow Haley Hansen on Twitter: @HaleHansen

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