Update: Pilot’s Name Released in Fatal Plane Crash

SAUK CENTRE -- Authorities have released the name of the man who died in a Stearns County plane crash Tuesday. The pilot, 50-year-old Matthew Skwira of Rice, died when his single-engine experimental aircraft crashed.

The Stearns County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene near the Sauk Centre Airport at about 9:30 p.m.

Airport officials notified authorities that the pilot was last seen at the airport at 3:30 p.m. and had not returned. Sheriff's officials say he had planned to stay near the airport to practice take-offs and landings. Calls to Skwira went unanswered and a search was launched.

Members of the Sauk Centre Fire Department located the downed airplane at 8:25 a.m. Wednesday approximately six miles south of the Sauk Centre Airport.

Skwira was the only person aboard the plane and was found dead at the scene.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating why the plane went down.