HAMILTON, MONTANA: Paul Ehlen, the founder of medical supply company Precision Lens, tragically died in a single-engine plane crash involving a vintage World War II-era aircraft. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, June 27, shortly after takeoff from Hamilton Airport in Montana.
The aircraft, a Curtiss Wright P-40E, experienced a mechanical failure, leading to its crash on private farmland in Hamilton, approximately 50 miles south of Missoula. Ehlen, who was piloting the plane as the sole occupant, died upon impact, according to the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office.
Who was Paul Ehlen?
Paul Ehlen was widely recognized as the owner of Precision Lens, a Bloomington-based company specializing in ophthalmic surgical products. Ehlen and his business partner, Ken Cameron, co-founded the organization under its former name, the Cameron Ehlen Group, in 1991. The company aimed to provide unparalleled speed and customer service across the Midwest region. However, earlier this year, Ehlen and Precision Lens faced legal troubles when they were found guilty of violating the federal anti-kickback law and the False Claims Act in a Minnesota court.
Why was Paul Ehlen convicted?
Minnesota prosecutors had accused Precision Lens and Ehlen of offering kickbacks to surgeons who used their products in cataract surgeries, which were subsequently reimbursed by Medicare. In May 2023, the court ruled in favor of the prosecution, holding Precision Lens accountable for multiple false claims submitted to Medicare. The company was ordered to pay a staggering sum of $487,048,705.13 in restitution, reflecting the magnitude of its violations.
What happened to Paul Ehlen?
The tragic crash occurred as Ehlen was piloting the P-40 aircraft back to Minneapolis, where he resided. Precision Lens expressed deep sorrow in a statement, emphasizing Ehlen's passion for restoring and flying vintage military planes. "Precision Lens is saddened by the passing earlier today of its founder Paul Ehlen," the company said in a statement to KARE. "Paul had a passion for restoring and flying vintage military aircraft, and he was killed this morning when the single-engine P-40 he was flying back to Minneapolis suffered a mechanical failure on takeoff. Above all else, Paul was a family man, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children whom he loved so dearly." The accident took place near Ravalli County Airport in Hamilton, Montana, which was located near Ehlen's home in Missoula.
Precision Lens controversy
Ehlen's untimely death marks a somber end to a notable career overshadowed by legal controversies. The case against Precision Lens was brought forward by the Civil Division of the US Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota with the assistance of whistleblower Kipp Fesenmaier. The court found that Precision Lens had engaged in illicit practices, including bribing customers with lavish travel and entertainment expenses facilitated by a secret slush fund. Trips to destinations such as Miami, New York City, and Augusta were cited as examples of bribes provided to customers. While Precision Lens grapples with the aftermath of the legal judgment, the aviation community mourns the loss of Paul Ehlen, a man remembered for his contributions to the medical supply industry and his passion for vintage aircraft.
