Accident Details
On August 26, 2024, about 0931 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, registration N9626K, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Wayne, Nebraska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The flight originated from Norfolk Regional Airport (OFK), Norfolk, Nebraska, and departed to the northeast, presumably to return to Buffalo, Minnesota. The airplane had been hangered as a transient at OFK for the weekend. According to the FBO manager, the airplane was refueled by the pilot at the self-service fuel pump prior to departure, but the manager did not observe the pilot check the weather at the FBO.
Witness Reports
A landowner whose property the airplane impacted reported that clouds were at about 100 ft above the ground when he initially heard the airplane fly by. Several minutes later, he heard the airplane at a very high rpm followed by a loud “pop” and silence afterwards. A black plume of smoke appeared, and he eventually located the airplane in his cornfield.
Examination
Examination of the airframe, engine and propeller at the accident site did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. An SD card was recovered from a Honeywell AV8OR personal navigator and was retained for data download.
Weather Observations
The FBO manager stated that weather at OFK at the time of departure of the accident airplane was mostly clear skies with 10+ miles of visibility. A surface observation taken about 7 nautical miles southeast of the accident site recorded ceilings at 600 ft agl near the time of the accident. A preliminary review of weather radar for the time and place of the accident showed a band of precipitation moving across the area. Flight track data showed the airplane traveling below 1,000 ft agl.