12 dead in crash of plane on skydiving outing in Missouri, authorities say

By — Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press By — Rebecca Boone, Associated Press Rebecca Boone, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/12-dead-in-crash-of-plane-on-skydiving-outing-in-missouri-authorities-say Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 12 dead in crash of plane on skydiving outing in Missouri, authorities say Nation Jun 14, 2026 4:06 PM EDT BUTLER, Mo. (AP) — A plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers on a skydiving outing in Missouri crashed in a field and was engulfed in flames Sunday, killing all aboard, authorities said. The crash happened shortly after the plane took off from a local airport around 11:30 a.m., and some of the occupants' family members witnessed the crash, said Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson. A heap of blue and silver mangled metal lay in the grass near Butler Memorial Airport with a massive lineup of emergency vehicles gathered on a nearby street. Clergy and volunteers went to the site to assist relatives, Anderson said, and officials were working Sunday afternoon to identify all victims and notify their next of kin. WATCH: House approves aviation safety bill Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration were also on scene Sunday afternoon, Anderson said, and a team from the National Transportation Safety Board was en route. The private plane was operated by Skydive Kansas City, said Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director. It was identified as a single engine turboprop plane. "It had just taken off and made a left turn" before the crash, Jacobs said. "In my opinion, I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire." Emergency responders put out the fire in the wreckage soon after the crash, Jacobs said, calling the scene "brutal." First responders also checked the area under the flight path and did not find anyone who might have tried to jump out before the plane came down, he said. The Pacific Aerospace 750XL that crashed is a model that's popular for skydiving and also has proven useful for carrying cargo, aerial surveying and medical evacuation flights. The aircraft can carry more than 4,000 pounds (1,800 kilograms) and is capable of taking off and landing on short runways, according to the manufacturer. The plane was built in 2010, according to FAA records. READ MORE: 3 killed in tourist helicopter crash near remote beach off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai Sky diving companies operate in the region eight or nine months of the year, with the season usually starting in late March or early April and lasting into October or November. Someone answering the phone at Skydive Kansas City declined to speak to a reporter from The Associated Press. The crashed occurred on a sunny day in the area. Data from the digital flight track