Overview
- A single-engine Pacific Aerospace P750XL operated by Skydive Kansas City crashed shortly after takeoff, failed to gain altitude, made a left turn and struck a field near Business 49 Highway before catching fire.
- The crash killed all 12 people on board — 11 passengers who were skydivers and the pilot — and first responders confirmed no one had exited the aircraft before impact.
- Family members watched the accident unfold and authorities completed next-of-kin notifications while the highway and Butler Memorial Airport remained closed for the investigation.
- The FAA and NTSB have taken control of the inquiry, sent teams to the scene, and said a thorough probable-cause process could take 12 to 24 months to complete.
- Flight-tracking records show the airplane made multiple short flights in the days before the crash, and safety experts have pointed to recurring concerns about maintenance and oversight of skydiving operations that regulators may now review.