Overview
- A Pacific Aerospace P750XL operated by Skydive Kansas City crashed into a field beside Butler Memorial Airport shortly after takeoff on Sunday, killing the pilot and 11 skydivers.
- Witnesses and officials said the aircraft made a sharp left turn and came down nose‑first about 300 yards from the runway, then caught fire before first responders extinguished the blaze.
- Search teams found no signs that any occupants exited the plane before impact, and local authorities treated the scene as a mass casualty while notifying next of kin.
- NTSB investigators and FAA personnel have begun an on‑site probe, collecting wreckage and records; investigators will examine engine performance, maintenance logs, pilot actions and operational procedures.
- Safety experts note skydiving flights are subject to less stringent oversight than commercial airlines, and the crash brings renewed focus to maintenance and regulatory gaps that previous NTSB reviews have flagged.