The four family members who died when a small plane crashed in southern Wisconsin have been identified.
Colleen Deininger, 81, was flying the plane transporting her daughter Melissa Deininger-Dickman, 53, and her two grandchildren, 17-year-old Emmarose Dickman and 13-year-old Alex Dickman, all of Kenosha.
Authorities say the single-engine Cessna 182T had left the Kenosha Regional Airport and was flying interstate to Monroe when it crashed Sunday about a mile north of the Monroe Municipal Airport.
Colleen Deininger, 81, (left) was flying the plane transporting her daughter Melissa Deininger-Dickman, 53, (right) and her two grandchildren when it crashed on Sunday
Her grandkids Emmarose Dickman (right) and Alex Dickman (left, both pictured as young children in an old, undated photo) were also killed
All four died at the scene.
The 911 call came in just after noon on Sunday.
An eyewitness reported that the plane was losing power, and ended up landing in an open field north of the airport a short time later.
First responders on the scene found a plane completely engulfed in flames after the crash over the weekend
The plane reportedly hit some trees and then burst into flames as it landed just north of the airport
The NTSB and FAA are on the scene and will be investigating the cause of the crash that four members of the same family
Sheriff Mark Rohloff of Monroe, Wisconsin said that the plane hit trees, ‘landed hard,’ and was completely engulfed in flames.
Firefighters rushed to the scene to battle the flames.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are on the scene investigating the crash.
A plane crash in the same area took two lives in 1988.
Family members say the group planned to celebrate a graduation that afternoon.
Mother-of-two Melissa, who went by Lisa, (pictured) studied marketing at Gateway Tech/Lakeland College and became an independent investment educator at Deininger Inc
17-year-old Emmarose Dickman (left and right) was killed instantly in the fiery crash
So was her younger brother, 13-year-old Alex Dickman, of Kenosha
Colleen Deininger, who is married to Franklyn Deininger, was a former broker and owner of Century 21 Colleen Realty.
Her daughter, mother-of-two Melissa, who went by Lisa, studied marketing at Gateway Tech/Lakeland College and became an independent investment educator at Deininger Inc.
Melissa’s niece Michelle Deininger paid tribute to her lost family on Facebook, writing: ‘Thank you everyone for the prayers and well wishes sent to me and my family yesterday.
‘This is an extremely difficult time for all of us and all condolences have been greatly appreciated. We lost 4 wonderful people far too soon. Rest In Peace Grandma Colleen, Aunt Lisa, Emma and Alex. We love you to the moon and back.’