PIERCE, Neb. – Federal officials are investigating a fatal plane crash that occurred Saturday evening (July 19) north of Meadow Grove in rural Pierce County.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office has identified the pilot as 66-year-old Daniel Kuether of Meadow Grove.

In a social media post, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that Kuether's plane was a Goodnight Firestar, an open cockpit lightweight aircraft produced as kits and constructed by the user. The investigation is ongoing.