12 Dead as Skydiving Aircraft Crashes After Takeoff in Missouri

BUTLER, Mo. — A skydiving aircraft carrying 11 jumpers and one pilot crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport on Sunday morning, killing all 12 people on board. The aircraft — a Pacific Aerospace 750XL operated by Skydive Kansas City — was approximately 100 feet above the ground when it encountered trouble, according to ABC News.

Witnesses and city officials said the aircraft struggled to gain altitude and appeared to attempt an emergency landing on a nearby roadway before stalling and going down in a field roughly 300 yards from the runway. The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed there were no survivors among the 12 on board, which included seven solo jumpers, two tandem pairs and the pilot.

Federal Investigation Underway

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a joint investigation with the FAA. Early focus has centered on a possible engine malfunction immediately after takeoff. Aviation analysts, including former NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti, noted that low-altitude engine failures often leave pilots with insufficient airspeed and altitude to safely return to the runway — a scenario commonly referred to as the "impossible turn." Skydive Kansas City said it is cooperating fully with federal and local investigators. A final NTSB probable-cause report is expected within 12 to 24 months.