A tragic plane crash near Butler, Missouri, on Sunday claimed the lives of 12 individuals, including 11 skydivers and the pilot. The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed from Butler Memorial airport.
Details of the Crash
According to Bates County Emergency Management, the private plane took off just before 11:30 a.m. local time but turned back and crashed near Business 49 Highway. The aircraft was operated by Skydive Kansas City, as confirmed by Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and Bates County emergency management agency director. Jacobs noted that the plane appeared to be losing power, stalled, and went down nose-first, catching fire.
Victims and Response
All 12 people on board perished in the crash. Emergency responders quickly extinguished the fire, describing the scene as "brutal." First responders also searched the area under the flight path but found no evidence of anyone attempting to jump before the crash. Multiple agencies responded, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Butler Police Department, Bates County Sheriff's Office, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Aircraft Information
The plane was identified as a Pacific Aerospace P750, a single-engine turboprop popular for skydiving, cargo transport, aerial surveying, and medical evacuation. Built in 2010, the aircraft can carry over 4,000 pounds and operate on short runways. Flight tracking data from FlightAware showed the plane had completed two short flights on Sunday before the crash, as well as several successful flights on previous days.
Investigation
The FAA confirmed the crash and stated that air traffic services were not being provided at the time. The NTSB will lead the investigation, though a final report on the exact cause may not be released for a year or more. The NTSB has previously criticized weak oversight for skydiving operators, citing a 2019 crash in Hawaii that killed 11 people.
This devastating incident has prompted a thorough investigation to determine the factors leading to the tragedy.
