Tragic Skydiving Plane Crash Near Kansas City, Missouri Claims 12 Lives
A Pacific Aerospace P-750XL turboprop, operated by Skydive Kansas City, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff on Sunday, June 14. The devastating incident resulted in the loss of all 12 people on board — the pilot and 11 skydivers — marking one of the deadliest general aviation accidents in recent U.S. history.
The aircraft took off from Butler Memorial Airport, approximately 60 miles south of Kansas City, at around 11:30 a.m. local time. Acting airport manager Dennis Jacobs reported that the plane was unable to gain altitude after takeoff. It made a sharp left turn before plummeting nose-first into a field adjacent to the airport, subsequently catching fire. Emergency responders arrived swiftly to extinguish the blaze, but found no survivors. Authorities confirmed that no one had exited the aircraft before impact.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace P-750, a New Zealand-built single-engine turboprop powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine. This model is popular among skydiving operators for its ability to carry large groups and operate from short runways. The plane involved in the accident was manufactured in 2010. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated a comprehensive investigation. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson described the scene as a “mass casualty” event.
Source: CBS News – 11 skydivers and pilot killed in plane crash near Kansas City