Plane crash kills 12 skydivers and pilot in Missouri
Consensus Summary
A private plane carrying 12 people, including 11 skydivers and a pilot, crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on June 14, 2026, around 11:30–11:35 AM local time. The aircraft, a Pacific Aerospace P750/P750XL operated by Skydiving Kansas City, caught fire after crashing in a grassy area near Business 49 Highway. All occupants died in the incident, and emergency responders from multiple agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, FAA, and NTSB, arrived at the scene. Witnesses reported the plane made a turn shortly after takeoff, possibly due to losing power, before crashing nose-first. The NTSB will lead the investigation, with preliminary reports suggesting no one on the ground was injured. The crash highlights ongoing concerns about maintenance standards for skydiving planes, as these operators face less stringent FAA regulations than commercial airlines. The aircraft was manufactured in 2010 and was one of around 30 private planes based at the small airport, which also supports crop-dusting and medical evacuation flights.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Twelve people (11 skydivers and 1 pilot) died in a plane crash near Butler, Missouri, on June 14, 2026, around 11:30–11:35 AM local time.
- The aircraft was a Pacific Aerospace P750 (or P750XL) that crashed while departing Butler Memorial Airport.
- Emergency responders included the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Butler Police Department, Bates County Sheriff’s Office, FAA, and NTSB.
- The plane caught fire after crashing in a grassy area near Business 49 Highway.
- The NTSB will lead the investigation into the crash, with the FAA assisting.
- The plane had just taken off and made a turn before crashing, with witnesses suggesting it may have lost power.
- No one on the ground was injured, and no skydivers jumped before the crash.
- The aircraft was manufactured in 2010 and operated by a skydiving company (Skydiving Kansas City).
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The plane was operated by Skydiving Kansas City, according to Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director.
- Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti noted that skydiving companies face less stringent FAA rules than airlines, citing a history of accidents due to inadequate maintenance.
- The Pacific Aerospace 750XL can carry up to 17 skydivers and is used for cargo, aerial surveying, and medical evacuations.
- Skydiving operations in the region run for 8–9 months a year, typically March–November.
- The airport serves around 30 privately owned aircraft, including crop-dusting companies and skydiving operators.
- The Guardian reached out to the Butler Police Department (BPD) and NTSB for additional comment but did not include their responses in the article.
- Videos posted online showed a heavily damaged aircraft with white smoke rising from the wreckage.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the plane was a Pacific Aerospace P750, while ABC refers to it as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL (though both likely refer to the same model).
- ABC mentions the plane was 'engulfed in flames' shortly after the crash, while the Guardian describes 'plumes of white smoke' without explicitly stating it was fully engulfed.
Source Articles
Pilot and 11 skydiving passengers killed in Missouri plane crash
Crash reportedly occurred shortly after departure from Butler Memorial airport at 11.30am on Sunday Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Twelve people were killed in a plane crash near Butler, Missouri , on Sunday. According to Bates county emergency management, a private plane that had departed Butler Memorial airport shortly before 11.30am turned back before crashing near Business 49 Highway, Fox 4 reported. Continue reading...
Twelve killed as skydiving plane goes down shortly after take-off
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