Federal Investigators Probe Missouri Skydiving Plane Crash That Killed 12

A single-engine turboprop plane carrying 12 people on a skydiving excursion crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff in Butler, Missouri, on Sunday morning, killing everyone on board. The crash occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. near the Butler Memorial Airport, located about 65 miles south of Kansas City. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson reported that some family members of those on board witnessed the crash.

The aircraft, a Pacific Aerospace 750XL built in 2010, was operated by Skydive Kansas City. Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director, stated that the plane made a left turn after takeoff before stalling, nose-diving into a field, and catching fire. Jacobs noted that he believed the plane was losing power and attempting to reach a nearby highway to land. Emergency responders extinguished the fire, and search teams confirmed no occupants attempted to jump from the plane before the impact.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials arrived at the scene Sunday afternoon, and a team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was en route to lead the investigation. Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing stated that the contributing factors to the crash remain unknown. Sheriff Anderson emphasized that there is no threat to the public, describing the incident as an apparent accident. Butler Memorial Airport and the adjacent highway remain closed while federal investigators conduct their on-scene inquiry.