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Plane Carrying Skydivers Crashes After Takeoff in Butler, Missouri, Killing 12

Federal and local investigators are examining wreckage and records as authorities notify families and close the airport while the cause remains undetermined.

Overview

  • A single‑engine Pacific Aerospace P750XL operated by Skydive Kansas City crashed shortly after takeoff on Sunday, June 14, near Butler Memorial Airport and all 12 people aboard died.
  • Officials said the plane made a sharp left turn, failed to gain altitude, hit a field about 300 yards from the runway and caught fire, and first responders found no evidence any skydivers exited the aircraft before impact.
  • Some family members witnessed the crash and local authorities completed notifications and victim identification as grief counselors and volunteers assisted relatives at the scene.
  • The FAA and NTSB have moved to the site to collect wreckage, maintenance and flight records, and the NTSB said a final probable‑cause report could take 12 to 24 months.
  • Safety experts note the P750XL is commonly used in skydiving and past NTSB work has flagged weaker federal oversight of jump operations, a context that could shape regulatory review and industry safety measures after this mass‑casualty event.