Updated: Pilot dead after plane crashes near Monticello

On Monday afternoon a plane went down in a field just south of Monticello. The Jones County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a plane crash in a field around 2:49pm.

Another aircraft that was in the area had located the crash site as well, and was circling it to help guide first responders. When first responders arrived at the scene of the crash, the pilot and only occupant, was found deceased in the cockpit. The pilot has been identified as James Eugene Rohlf of Bennett, Iowa.

The investigation into the incident found that the plane had just left the Monticello airport before the crash. Shortly after it departed the James Rohlf radioed that he was experiencing engine trouble and would return to the airport. Less than a minute afterwards he radioed that he was going down in a bean field. The field that the plane went down in was just 2 miles South of the Monticello airport.

The plane has been removed from the field and is being transported out of state for further inspection by federal investigators.

Photo courtesy of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office