Kolb FIRESTAR accident near Meadow Grove, Nebraska, July 20, 2025
On July 20, 2025 at about 1:50 am local time, a 2008 Kolb FIRESTAR, registered N55161, was destroyed in an accident near Meadow Grove, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2025 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Meadow Grove, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kolb FIRESTAR, built 2008 · all FIRESTARs on the register
- Registration
- N55161 · registry record · serial F.S. 07-2-00083
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 19, 2025, about 2050 central daylight time, a Kolb Firestar airplane, N55161, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Meadow Grove, Nebraska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A family member reported that the pilot departed his private airstrip about 1610. Local authorities were notified of the accident about 2050 when a property owner noticed the airplane in his soybean field. There were no witnesses, and the exact time of the accident is unknown. The accident site was located in a soybean field about 0.3 mile south of the departure airstrip. Initial ground impact was about 50 ft from the wreckage, and the impact path was oriented on a southwest heading. The forward portion of the fuselage was crushed aft, and the cockpit area was compromised. The left wing was separated at the root and retained by the wing strut. The right wing remained attached to the fuselage at the root with the wing strut intact. The tailboom was fractured about 2 ft aft of the fuselage consistent with impact forces. It was retained by the elevator and rudder cables. The empennage remained attached to the tail boom. The upper portion of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were deformed consistent with the impact sequence. Figure 1 – Accident Site Aileron control continuity was continuous from the control stick to the wing roots, and from the wing roots to the ailerons. 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 the impact damage. Both ailerons remained attached to the wings at the hinges. Control cable continuity from the control stick to the elevators and from the rudder pedals to the rudder horn was confirmed. At the time of the on-scene examination, the engine was separated and rested adjacent to the fuselage. The engine assembly appeared intact. Both intake air filters and carburetors were separated. The left carburetor was located in the debris path. The right carburetor was retained by the fuel inlet hose. Internal engine and gearbox continuity were confirmed via rotation of the crankshaft. Two propeller blades remained attached to the hub and appeared intact. One propeller blade was separated at the root and located 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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Meadow Grove NE at 9:10 pm
- Destination: PVT Meadow Grove NE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from KOFK, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOFK 200149Z AUTO 08008KT 10SM -RA BKN024 24/23 A2989 RMK AO2 RAE00B40 P0000 T02440233 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N55161 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.