KEARNEY, Neb. — Authorities have identified the two victims of Wednesday night’s plane crash northeast of Kearney as 77-year-old Dr. Mark H. Meyer and 72-year-old Kent O. Magnuson, both residents of rural Kearney. The Buffalo County Attorney’s Office has ordered autopsies, and the investigation is ongoing in coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The aircraft, reported overdue by the FAA around 9:30 p.m. on August 27, had lost contact while en route to Kearney Regional Airport. Its last known location was several miles north of the airport. First responders, assisted by Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney Police Department drones, located the crash site near 145th and Imperial Roads at approximately 10:07 a.m. Thursday. Both occupants were found deceased at the scene, and next of kin notification is underway.

The search and recovery involved a joint effort including the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Kearney Police Department, Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Good Samaritan Hospital, and other local law enforcement. Ground searches continued through the night and resumed Thursday morning using drones, patrol vehicles, UTVs, and on-foot teams. Authorities expressed gratitude to the community for their support and assistance during the search.

Officials continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash, and further details will be released as they become available. Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of Dr. Meyer and Magnuson during this difficult time.