This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N8422P
- History of Flight:
On August 4, 2026, at about 1838 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, N8422P, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Bethany, Missouri. The pilot was fatally injured.
The rest of the post will be completed later.
- Pilot Information:
Will be written later.
- Airplane Information:
Will be written later.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
None.
- Weather:
The nearest weather station reported the following conditions about 20 minutes after the accident: 10 miles visibility, distant lighting from all quadrants, thunderstorms in the vicinity, a broken cloud layer at 8,000 ft AGL, and an overcast ceiling at 9,500 ft AGL.
Another nearby airport reported the following conditions 3 minutes before the accident: Visibility 7 miles, winds 360 at 13 knots gusting 18 knots, a cloud layer at 1,200 ft AGL and 9,500 ft AGL and a broken layer at 12,000 ft AGL.
The local area forecast discussion reported the following at 1753 LT: "Another round of showers/storms possible Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night into Thursday morning. A few storms may be strong, with locally moderate to heavy rainfall also possible."
(1) METARs:
METAR KLWD 042253Z AUTO 03010KT 10SM BKN090 24/21 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP156 T02440206
METAR KLWD 042353Z AUTO 01010KT 10SM VCTS BKN080 OVC095 23/21 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS SLP159 T02330211 10289 20233 53005
METAR KEVU 042335Z AUTO 36013G18KT 7SM SCT012 SCT095 BKN120 23/23 A3004 RMK AO2 T02400232
METAR KEVU 042355Z AUTO 03013G18KT 7SM -RA SCT012 SCT042 SCT070 22/22 A2999 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT E T02300230
METAR KEZZ 042335Z AUTO 12004KT 10SM CLR 30/20 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N
METAR KEZZ 042355Z AUTO 11003KT 10SM BKN120 30/19 A3003 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N
(2) Area Forecast Discussion:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill MO 553 PM CDT Tue Aug 4 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Shower/storms possible tonight into Wednesday morning. - Another round of showers/storms possible Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night into Thursday morning. A few storms may be strong, with locally moderate to heavy rainfall also possible. - Temperatures warm Friday and into the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 150 PM CDT Tue Aug 4 2026 Current H5 analysis shows mid/upper troughing across the Northern Plains and encroaching on the Upper Midwest, with a band of 40+ knot H5 winds extending from northern Colorado into NE Minnesota and western Ontario. At the surface, a cold front is analyzed northeast to southwest through Iowa, into extreme SE Nebraska and further into SW Kansas, where a weak surface cyclone has developed. At this time, showers and a few thunderstorms are ongoing, primarily north of the cold front (elevated), across portions of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Meanwhile, south of the front across our CWA, temperatures have risen into the upper 80s as of 2 PM, with afternoon Max Ts expected to reach the lower to even mid 90s (south of the KC metro) by later this afternoon. The front is likely to stall out and become essentially stationary by later this afternoon/evening across NW Missouri into NE Kansas. While stronger mid level flow and better forcing for ascent should remain north of the front, cannot completely rule out a strong thunderstorm or two late afternoon into early evening toward the Iowa border thanks to a moderately unstable air mass in place along and south of the front, which has prompted SPC to include northern Missouri within a marginal risk for severe storms. However, CAM guidance has trended toward keeping convection primarily north of the Iowa border. By late tonight into the overnight period. a vort max currently over Colorado, pushes eastward toward our region, and along with a modest low level jet, should help develop showers and thunderstorms north of the front across SE Nebraska into SW Iowa. Once again, most of this activity should remain north of our CWA, but may sneak southward into northern Missouri. As we head into tomorrow, another mid level vort maxima moves into the region as broad mid/upper troughing across the north central CONUS digs a little further south into the region, with the stalled front still in place across the CWA, which should help generate isolated to scattered showers and storms tomorrow morning into early afternoon, with another round of convection possible late tomorrow evening into early Thursday morning. With dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s, decent mid level flow allowing for 30 to 35 knots of effective shear, and 1500 to 2000 J/kg of ML CAPE, a few storms could be strong to severe. Additionally, with PWATs in the 1.8" to 2" range and deep warm cloud depths, locally moderate to heavy rainfall may be possible. There will be yet another chance for showers and thunderstorms late Thursday into Friday morning. By Friday and into the weekend, the western ridge re-establishes itself, with a 597 dam H5 high developing over the Four Corners region, yielding increasing mid level heights over our CWA. Afternoon highs should return to the 90s across the CWA for Saturday and Sunday, with max heat indices ranging from the upper 90s to the mid 100s, with generally dry weather likely. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 552 PM CDT Tue Aug 4 2026 VFR conds are expected with bkn-ovc mid-lvl clouds btn 10-15kft expected thru the pd. The exception will be fm 13Z-17Z when a pd of lgt tsra will be poss at the TAF site. There will also be the potential for storms at the TAF site late in the TAF pd aft 22z however conf is too low at this time for inclusion in the TAF. Winds to begin the TAF pd will be out of the ESE/SE btn 5-10kts thru 09Z-11Z aft which they will be lgt and vrb. && .EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...None. KS...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Williams AVIATION...73
- Additional Information:
None
