Skydive Plane Crashes After Takeoff in Missouri, Killing All 12 Aboard

BUTLER, Mo. — A skydiving flight ended in tragedy Saturday when a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 12 people on board. The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kansas City, went down in a field adjacent to Butler Memorial Airport around 11:30 a.m.

According to officials, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet before crashing. Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and director of the Bates County Emergency Management Agency, said the aircraft appeared to be losing power. Jacobs said the pilot likely attempted an emergency landing on a nearby roadway before the aircraft stalled and impacted the ground nose-down.

The aircraft caught fire upon impact, and emergency responders extinguished the blaze. First responders confirmed no passengers had jumped from the aircraft before the crash. The Bates County Sheriff's Office and Missouri Highway Patrol closed the airport and an adjacent highway to facilitate the investigation.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation. While the crash occurred on a clear, sunny day, investigators are expected to examine engine performance, maintenance records and pilot actions to determine what caused the stall.