A private aircraft carrying 11 skydivers and a pilot crashed shortly after takeoff in Missouri on Sunday, killing everyone on board in one of the state’s deadliest aviation accidents in recent years.
The aircraft went down near Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, about 60 miles south of Kansas City, according to local authorities. Officials confirmed that all 12 people aboard the flight died in the crash.
Aircraft operator Skydive Kansas City announced the fatalities in a statement, saying the company was devastated by the tragedy.
“Tragically, all 12 individuals aboard lost their lives in the accident,” the company said.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released as authorities continue notifying next of kin. The company said it is cooperating fully with local officials as well as federal investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
According to Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and Bates County emergency management director, the single-engine turboprop aircraft departed shortly after 11:20 a.m. local time. Witnesses reported that the plane failed to gain sufficient altitude after takeoff before making a sharp left turn and crashing roughly 300 yards from the runway.
The National Transportation Safety Board identified the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, a utility aircraft commonly used for skydiving operations because of its ability to carry multiple jumpers and climb efficiently to high altitudes.
Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson emphasized that the aircraft was not a commercial passenger flight but a locally operated skydiving plane departing from the regional airport.
“This is not a commercial airliner that has crashed; it’s a local airplane that took off from our local airport,” Anderson said during a news conference. “This appears to be an accident.”
Authorities also confirmed that several family members of the victims witnessed the crash, adding another layer of tragedy to the incident.
Emergency crews from multiple fire departments, coroners’ offices and law enforcement agencies responded after receiving an emergency call shortly before 11:30 a.m. The crash site was quickly secured as recovery operations began.
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration arrived at the scene on Sunday, while the National Transportation Safety Board said its investigators are expected to begin their on-site investigation on Monday.
The NTSB noted that determining the probable cause of the accident will require an extensive investigation, with a final report expected to be completed within 12 to 24 months.
Investigators will examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, weather conditions, pilot qualifications, operational records and any available evidence from the wreckage to determine what caused the fatal crash.
The accident marks another major setback for the general aviation community and highlights the lengthy investigative process typically required following fatal aircraft accidents. Until investigators complete their work, officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of the crash.
