Overview
- A single‑engine Pacific Aerospace P750XL operated by Skydive Kansas City crashed in a field beside Butler Memorial Airport after takeoff on Sunday, killing the pilot and 11 skydivers.
- First responders put out a post‑impact fire and searched the flight path but found no evidence any occupants exited the aircraft before it hit the ground.
- Local witnesses and on‑scene officials reported the plane made a sharp left turn at low altitude and an acting airport manager said the aircraft appeared to lose power and stall before a nose‑first impact.
- The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration dispatched teams to secure the wreckage, close the airport and nearby highway, and begin a detailed examination and records review.
- The aircraft was manufactured in 2010 and FlightAware data show several short flights in the days before the crash, renewing broader safety questions about maintenance and oversight of skydiving operations.