3 killed in small-plane crash in western Wisconsin

A married couple and a family friend have been identified as the three victims of a single-engine plane crash Friday just north of Menomonie, Wis.

By JENNA ROSS, a nd JOHN M c INTYRE

Last update: February 2, 2009 - 12:13 PM

A married couple and a family friend have been identified as the three victims of a single-engine plane crash Friday just north of Menomonie, Wis. Laurence "Larry" Berg, of Houlton, Wis. was believed to have been flying home after picking up his wife, Vicki Berg, from her job traveling to small-town hospitals as an anesthetist. Family members confirmed Saturday that Brett Weller, 44, also was on the plane. Weller was a marketing and sales manager for the Resco Co. in Hudson.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office received a call at about 9:45 p.m. Friday about a possible plane crash near Hwy. 25 and 770th Avenue, north of Menomonie in Tainter Township. Menomonie is about 70 miles east of Minneapolis.

Deputies found the plane in a field and wooded area, a Dunn County Sheriff's spokeswoman said. The wreckage was scattered over five to 10 acres.

Jim Silliman, Air Safety Investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said a preliminary report is expected next week. "We are doing wreckage documentation and a diagram of the wreckage site," Silliman said. "The impact and going through the ravine and woods did create significant structural damage to the aircraft."

Officials remained at the scene Saturday and were asking people to stay away, the spokeswoman said.

Anne Michele Berg, Larry Berg's first wife, said that Vicki previously lived in Cottage Grove. Anne, who was married to Larry for 10 years, said that sailing "was the highlight of our marriage. We had a lot of fun," Anne said. She did not know that Larry had a pilot's license.

Driving to his Menomonie, Wis., home just before 10 p.m. Friday, Jackson McMahon saw something through the right-hand corner of his windshield.

"It was like a shooting star that just flashed," McMahon, 31, said. "Then, on the horizon, a pink glow."

The plane, a Cirrus SR20, was heading from Sheboygan, Wis., to New Richmond Wis., when it crashed, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

jross@startribune.com • 612-673-7168 jmcintyre@startribune.com • 612-673-4396 Staff writer Gail Rosenblum and the Associated Press contributed to this report.