KEARNEY, Neb. — Authorities have identified the two occupants of a plane that crashed near 145th and Imperial Roads on August 28, 2025. The victims are Dr. Mark H. Meyer, 77, and Kent O. Magnuson, 72, both from rural Kearney.
The Buffalo County Attorney's Office has mandated autopsies, as the investigation continues. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are collaborating to determine the crash's cause. “Our thoughts are with the family members during this time,” officials stated.
First responders located the crash site at approximately 10:07 a.m. using drones from the Buffalo County Sheriff's Office and Kearney Police Department. Both occupants were found deceased, and next of kin notifications are in progress.
The FAA reported the aircraft overdue at about 9:30 p.m. on August 27, after it lost contact while en route to Kearney Regional Airport. The last known location of the plane was a few miles north of the airport.
The search involved multiple agencies, including the Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff's Office, Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol. Ground searches continued overnight and resumed Thursday morning, employing drones and various vehicles. “We thank the many members of the community for their support during the search,” the Buffalo County Sheriff's Office added.
The investigation remains ongoing, involving the Buffalo County Attorney's Office, FAA, and NTSB.