Twelve people died after a Pacific Aerospace 750XL carrying 11 skydivers and a pilot crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday from Butler Memorial Airport and burned, prompting the NTSB’s first public update.
NTSB Vice Chairman Michael Graham said investigators have not determined a cause and do not yet know whether the aircraft had a cockpit or flight data recorder; the wreckage is due to be moved Tuesday for further examination.
Skydive KC has faced two other recent incidents tied to its aircraft: a 2024 parachute-deployment accident that seriously injured a jumper and a June 2025 maintenance-flight crash onto a hangar roof that remains under investigation.
Butler residents, the Red Cross and Code 1 Wellness have mobilized support for families and first responders as the town waits for an initial NTSB report in about 30 days and a final report no sooner than 18 months.