Tragedy on the Platte River: Three Killed in Nebraska Plane Crash

A quiet evening in eastern Nebraska turned tragic on April 18 when a small plane crashed into the Platte River, killing all three people on board.

The Cessna 180 was flying along the river just south of Fremont, roughly 40 miles northwest of Omaha, when it suddenly went down around 8:15 p.m., according to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency responders arrived quickly, but there were no survivors. The bodies of the three occupants were recovered from the water. On Saturday, authorities identified the victims as Daniel Williams, 43, of Moundridge, Kansas; Jeff Bittinger, 50, of Fremont, Nebraska; and Randy Amrein, 48, also of Fremont.

The cause of the crash remains unknown. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations. An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive on site the following day to begin the process of documenting the scene and collecting evidence.

Jennifer Gabris, an NTSB spokesperson, emphasized that the agency does not speculate on crash causes during the early stages. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, but a full investigation could take months.

The crash adds to a recent string of small aircraft and helicopter accidents that have raised concerns in aviation circles. For now, the focus remains on understanding what went wrong over the Platte River—and honoring the lives lost in the quiet heartland of Nebraska.