Pilot identified in Monticello crash

The pilot who died in Monday afternoon’s crash near Monticello has been identified as James E. Rohlf, 69, of rural Bennett. Rohlf owned East Iowa Aviation Inc. located in Bennett, records show.

The plane, a 1958 T-28B, was reported down by Monticello Aviation around 2:49 p.m. The company received information from another pilot in the area that had located the aircraft and was circling the area to help first responders reach the scene, which they did at 3:06 p.m.

A preliminary investigation revealed Rohlf had departed from the Monticello Airport and was flying south. Shortly after takeoff, Rohlf reported engine trouble over the radio and said he would return to the airport. Less than a minute later, Rohlf said he was going down in a bean field.

Another plane approaching the Monticello Regional Airport heard the distress radio traffic and located the crash site, which was about 3/4 of a mile northeast of the intersection of 170th Street and 140th Avenue and 1/4 mile off 140th Avenue in rural Monticello. It was about two miles south of the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board and Jones County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to investigate. The plane has been recovered and will be transported out of state for further investigation, the sheriff said in a news release.