NSP: 1 dead in plane crash near Crofton: Authorities still investigating

EDITOR’S NOTE – The story has been updated with information from the the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KCAU) — UPDATE (Aug. 26, 2:47 p.m.): One person has died in a plane crash in northeast Nebraska, and details are still to come in another plane crash in a different county.

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) said in a release that there was a plane crash in Knox County reported around 9:30 a.m. The crash happened about four miles southwest of Crofton.

Authorities arrived to the scene and found the pilot who was then pronounced dead at the scene. The release states that the pilot was the only occupant at the time of the crash.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office also provided the following regarding the plane crash.

The Nebraska State Patrol, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Crofton Fire/EMS responded to a field southwest of Crofton, Nebraska, on the morning of August 26, 2024, after receiving reports of a crashed small plane. One fatality has been reported. The fatality is believed to be the pilot with no other individuals in the plane. The name of the individual is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.  The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Knox County Sheriff’s Office

The NSP said that another plane crash happened a “short time later” near the city of Wayne.

The NSP is the lead investigating agency of the plane crash in Knox County, while the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigating agency for the crash near Wayne.

Troopers used drones to survey both crash scenes to assist in each investigation.

Other details about the crashes have not been provided.

The National Transportation Safety Board has been contacted and will investigate both crashes, the release states.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, the NTSB Newsroom said the plane crash in Wayne County happened near the city of Wayne and involved a Piper PA-28-140. The Knox County plane crash involved a Rans S-19 airplane and happened near Crofton.

EDITOR’S NOTE – The story has been updated with information from the NTSB.

PREVIOUS (Aug. 26, 11:24 a.m.): Nebraska authorities are investigating two plane crashes in northeast Nebraska Monday morning.

A spokesperson for Nebraska State Patrol told KCAU 9 that there were two plane crashes, one each in Knox and Wayne counties.

The plane crashes were of small planes and were separate incidents.

The NSP said that local authorities are in contact with the FAA and NTSB.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, the NTSB Newsroom said the plane crash in Wayne County happened near the city of Wayne and involved a Piper PA-28-140. The Knox County plane crash involved a Rans S-19 airplane and happened near Crofton.

There are few other details on the crashes as authorities are investigating the incidents.

The Knox and Wayne county’s sheriff’s offices provided no comment on the incidents.

This is a developing story. KCAU 9 will update as we learn more.

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