Nebraska Small Plane Crash Kills Three: What We Know

A small plane crashed into a Nebraska river on Friday night killing three people, with their bodies now recovered, local officials said.The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed to Newsweek on Saturday morning that the plane was a Cessna 180."An NTSB investigator is expected to arrive on scene this afternoon," a NTSB spokesperson told Newsweek.Why It MattersFriday's crash came just days after a small twin-engine plane went down in New York's Hudson Valley killing all six people onboard. It also followed two other fatal aviation accidents just over a week ago, a small plane crash in South Florida and a helicopter crash in the Hudson River in New York City, that together claimed nine lives.The recent tragedies are bringing renewed attention about the safety of air travel, especially as larger flights have made headlines, such as the American Airlines regional jet that collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. in late January. The collision killed 67 people.The NTSB has reported 295 aviation accidents so far this year, including 57 that were fatal. In April, 34 accidents have been recorded, according to the agency's latest data.Experts, however, maintain that flying is safe still.What To Know At about 8:12 p.m. local time on Friday, the Dodge County dispatch center received a call about a small plane crash on the Platte River south of Fremont, Sergeant Brie Frank said during a news conference that evening. The caller reported seeing "a plane go down," she said.Dodge County deputies, Fremont Police Department, Fremont Fire Department, and several other agencies later arrived on the scene. Air boats were in the water searching, as well as drones were also used to search the area, the sergeant said.In an update about two hours later, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office reported that "the three occupants of the plane have been recovered and are confirmed deceased. Those identities will not be released at this time pending next of kin notification."A Cessna 180 is a high-wing, fixed-gear aircraft. The FAA and NTSB have taken over the investigation, with the NTSB leading it.What People Are SayingA spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told Newsweek on Saturday: "NTSB investigations involve three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment."They added that that the investigator will gather information regarding flight tracking data, air traffic control communications, maintenance records, weather conditions, pilot's background, witness statements, and any surveillance video."During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident," the spokesperson said.What Happens Next?The cause of the crash is not yet known, but a preliminary NTSB report about the crash will be available within 30 days.The final report is expected within 12 months to 24 months.The FAA will post a preliminary incident report "usually the next business day," an FAA spokesperson told Newsweek.