Plane crashes near Lake Wales

A small plane headed from the Bahamas to Kansas crashed in a rural part of Polk County.  All six people on board were killed.

The crash occurred near Rattlesnake Road and Bob Cat Trail, a heavily wooded area known as the Tiger Creek Swamp, just outside of Lake Wales.

The aircraft, a 2006 Pilatus PC-12/47 (single-turboprop, fixed wing), is owned by Roadside Ventures LLC of Junction City, Kansas.  Ronald Bramlage, of Junction City, Kansas, is the owner.

The aircraft had taken off from Treasure Cay Airport located in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas and made a stop at the St. Lucie County International Airport in Fort Pierce to clear customs.   The aircraft resumed flight with 2 adults and 4 children on board at 12:05 p.m. in route to Kansas.  The plane went down over southeast Polk County, but investigators still do not know what caused the crash.

Deputies were able to reach the area by helicopter with medical personnel and it was immediately clear that there were no survivors.  The crash site is in a remote and uninhabited area.

Traveling in the aircraft were Ronald Bramlage (pilot), age 45, his wife, Rebecca Bramlage, age 43, and their 4 children. 

Parts of the aircraft have been located as far as 2 miles from the crash site.  It is apparent that parts of the aircraft separated before the crash.  The aircraft was traveling at approximately 26,000 feet when it first began experiencing trouble.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is conducting the death investigation in this matter.  The NTSB and FAA will be conducting investigations related the crash.  Additionally, the aircraft manufacturer and the engine manufacturer will be conducting investigations.