PIPER PA-24-250

Full Narrative

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.