Accident Details
On July 19, 2025, about 2050 central daylight time, a Kolb Firestar airplane, registration N55161, was destroyed in an accident near Meadow Grove, Nebraska. The pilot, operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 for personal flight, sustained fatal injuries. A family member reported that the pilot departed his private airstrip around 1610. The exact time of the accident remains unknown as there were no witnesses. Local authorities were notified about 2050 when a property owner discovered the airplane in his soybean field.
Wreckage Examination
The accident site was located approximately 0.3 mile south of the departure airstrip in a soybean field. The initial ground impact was about 50 ft from the main wreckage, with the impact path oriented on a southwest heading. The forward portion of the fuselage was crushed aft, and the cockpit area was compromised. The left wing had separated at the root but remained attached by the wing strut, while the right wing stayed attached at the root with the strut intact. The tailboom was fractured about 2 ft aft of the fuselage, consistent with impact forces, and retained by the elevator and rudder cables. The empennage remained attached to the tailboom, and the upper portion of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were deformed consistent with the impact sequence.
Control system continuity was confirmed. Aileron control continuity was present from the control stick to the wing roots and then to the ailerons. The aileron control rod end separations at the wing roots appeared consistent with overstress failures resulting from the impact. The torque tube from the control stick to the aft fuselage was deformed consistent with impact damage. Both ailerons remained attached at their hinges. Additionally, control cable continuity from the control stick to the elevators and from the rudder pedals to the rudder horn was established.
Engine and Propeller Examination
At the time of the on-scene examination, the engine had separated and rested adjacent to the fuselage, appearing intact. Both intake air filters and carburetors were separated; the left carburetor was located in the debris path, while the right carburetor was retained by the fuel inlet hose. Internal engine and gearbox continuity was confirmed through rotation of the crankshaft. Two of the three propeller blades remained attached to the hub and appeared intact, while one blade had separated at the root and was found in the debris path. The separated blade was deformed and delaminated, consistent with ground impact. The engine ignition modules and engine monitor were retained for further evaluation.