BUTLER, MISSOURI / Content Syndication Services / – Twelve people died Sunday when a skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport in western Missouri. The dead included 11 skydivers and the pilot. Authorities said there were no survivors. The crash happened near Butler, about 65 miles south of Kansas City. The aircraft was part of a Skydive Kansas City operation, making the accident one of the deadliest U.S. skydiving aviation crashes in recent years.
Emergency crews responded before noon after reports that the plane went down near airport property and caught fire. Officials said the aircraft had departed moments earlier for a skydiving flight. Responders found the wreckage near Business 49 Highway, close to the airport. The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed the number of deaths and said troopers assisted local authorities. The Bates County Sheriff’s Office and Butler police also responded to the scene.
Officials said some relatives of those aboard witnessed the crash from the ground. Authorities worked through the day to identify victims and notify families. Clergy, volunteers and state support teams assisted relatives near the crash site. The airport remained closed while investigators secured the area. Local officials said no evidence suggested a criminal act, and they urged the public to avoid the airport and nearby roads during the response.
Federal Investigation Begins
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the federal investigation into the Missouri plane crash. The Federal Aviation Administration also joined the response. Officials identified the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, a single-engine turboprop often used for skydiving flights. Investigators have not announced a cause. They are reviewing the wreckage, witness accounts, flight information, maintenance records and available electronic data from the aircraft and personal devices.
The aircraft was built in 2010, according to federal records. Flight tracking data showed it had completed multiple short flights over the weekend before the crash, including two earlier flights Sunday. The plane operated under rules for private skydiving activity rather than scheduled airline service. Federal officials said air traffic services were not being provided at the airport when the aircraft departed. Butler Memorial Airport serves private aviation and local flight activity.
Skydiving Community Grieves
The crash shook the regional skydiving community, where several of those aboard had long ties to the sport. The United States Parachute Association identified technology director Jen Sharp among the victims. The group said she had decades of skydiving experience and thousands of jumps. Authorities had not released a full official victim list as family notifications continued. Skydive Kansas City said its staff was assisting investigators and supporting those affected by the deaths.
The confirmed facts remain focused on the crash sequence, the deaths and the investigation. The plane departed Butler Memorial Airport on June 14, then crashed soon after takeoff. All 12 people aboard died at the scene. The cause remains undetermined. Federal investigators are handling the technical review, while local agencies continue support work in Bates County. The incident has drawn national attention to skydiving plane safety, airport response and aircraft oversight.