Overview
- A small single‑engine plane crashed near a runway at Winona Municipal Airport Thursday night and the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Authorities identified the victim as 74‑year‑old Wayne William Ledebuhr and local crews performed lifesaving measures upon arrival.
- The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have taken over the investigation and officials say the probe is ongoing.
- Multiple local agencies including Winona Fire, Winona Police, Winona County Emergency Management, the sheriff’s office and Winona Area Ambulance assisted at the scene.
- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has publicly denied any link between the crash and nearby spongy moth operations and Winona Police offered condolences while reviewing local operational plans; FAA and NTSB inquiries could take weeks to determine a cause and may affect future airport or aerial activity.