MONROE — The private plane that fatally crashed in a quarry near Monroe airport just before Thanksgiving was executing a missed-landing approach procedure when somehow the pilot lost control and flew into the ground.
That is according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the crash that killed the 43-year-old pilot, a Monroe native, and his passenger.
“Early information indicates the aircraft was executing a missed approach procedure on the RNAV (GPS) Runway 12 approach,” said the NTSB Preliminary report, which draws heavily on flight lingo and reaches no firm conclusions.
Still, it establishes key facts in the investigation.
“Reports show that poor weather conditions, including fog and a low overcast ceiling at approximately 300 feet, significantly reduced visibility at the time of the crash.”
The Socata TBM 700 — a high-performance turbo prop — took off from Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh at 4:40 p.m. on November 24. As short flight later, it was trying to land in Monroe when it went down at about 5:14 p.m.
A diagram in the report shows the plane, a 2003 model, climb and bank before diving straight into the quarry, where it struck mining-related heavy equipment before tumbling into a fiery explosion.
“An initial impact point was the airplane’s right wing embedded in an elevated rock shaker table mounted on a semi-trailer,” said the report.
The victims that night were Brett D. Gelbach, 43, of Oshkosh and formerly of Monroe; and Eric A. Felix, 41, Omro. The men — both certified pilots — appeared to be just trying to make it home for the holiday and thought they could make it in.
“A witness at the airport reported that he heard the airplane increase engine power for a missed approach and he began searching for it in the fog,” said the report. “Shortly after the power up, he witnessed a bright orange glow and heard a loud explosion.”
At one point, according to the report, Gelbach informed traffic controllers they would fly back to Oshkosh if they could not land in Monroe due to foul weather, the report said.
The Socata was flying with about a quarter-mile of visibility — perhaps not enough for what they were trying to do on a night with an overcast ceiling at 300 ft above ground level (AGL). Landing weather minimums were 400 ft AGL ceiling and a statue mile of visibility for Monroe’s airport, according to the report.
While Gelbach was not new to flying, the aircraft was new to him and far more powerful than the Cessna 421 he previously flew. He bought the plane on November 4, 2025, according to the report.
“Training records reviewed for both the pilot and pilot-rated passenger showed they had completed the insurance required TBM 700 Initial Training on November 5, 2025,” said the NTSB.
Gelbach had deep ties to Monroe and was the owner of Oshkosh Dock and Lift, LLC and Boondocks Pilings and Piers, LLC. He was born on April 4, 1982 in Monroe, the son of Dan and Barb Gelbach.
Growing up in Oshkosh, passenger Eric A. Felix, 41, attended the EAA Airshow in his hometown every year; and could not wait to learn to fly, according to his obituary. Felix also started and ran his own business, Felix Auto and Tire, LLC. Of Oshkosh.
The information provided in the report is “preliminary” and the investigation by NTSB will continue until a final report on the crash is released. No time frame for that was given by the agency.
