Buffalo County plane crash victim identified

KEARNEY, Neb. — Authorities have identified the person killed in a small plane crash near Kearney last week.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office says 69-year-old John Reading of Broomfield, Colorado was the pilot and lone occupant of the aircraft when it crashed around 9:15 Friday morning. He died in the accident, which happened on the east edge of Bassway Strip State Wildlife Management Area about 12 miles east of Kearney.

The Sheriff’s Office says Reading was flying a single engine Van’s VR-7 aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash.