# NTSB CEN26FA280: Piper PA-24-250, N8422P, Bethany, MO, August 4, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: August 4, 2026, 18:39 local (23:39 UTC)
- Place: Bethany, MO
- Coordinates: 40.356667, -94.025556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3567&lon=-94.0256&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Lycoming Engines, Federal Aviation Administration, Kansas City FSDO, Piper Aircraft, Inc.
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203525
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26FA280
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203525/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA280

## Preliminary report

On August 4, 2026, about 1839 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N8422P, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Bethany, Missouri. The pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 flight. The pilot, who was also the airplane owner, departed on a personal flight under visual flight rules from Peoria International Airport Peoria, Illinois, to Rapid City Regional Airport, Rapid City, South Dakota. Preliminary radar data showed that the flight climbed to an initial cruise altitude of about 13,000 ft msl after departure and operated at an altitude about 12,500 ft msl for about 90 minutes. The cruise altitude increased above 18,000 ft msl and into Class A airspace during the flight, which operated without air traffic control clearance or services. A review of weather data showed the flight entered convective activity after which it descended and impacted terrain. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it was not equipped with an installed breathable or a portable breathable oxygen system. The postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8422P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8422P), registered now, S/N 24-3672, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-3672
- Year built: 1964
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Departed: PIA, Peoria, IL
- Destination: RAP, Rapid City, SD

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 10° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: LWD, 18 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20260804013309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260804013309A), Aug 4, 2026: Piper PA-24, Bethany, MO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft departed peoria, IL with unknown destination. ATC reported thunderstorms along path of flight and described aircraft heading and altitude as erratic.…

## Other investigations on N8422P (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA98LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA028), Jan 23, 1998: Piper PA-24-250 (N8422P), Sutherlin, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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