Some of the skydivers killed in Missouri plane crash were experienced jumpers

By — John Seewer, Associated Press John Seewer, Associated Press By — Josh Funk, Associated Press Josh Funk, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/some-of-the-skydivers-killed-in-missouri-plane-crash-were-experienced-jumpers Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Some of the skydivers killed in Missouri plane crash were experienced jumpers Nation Jun 15, 2026 6:28 PM EDT Several of the skydivers killed when their plane crashed moments after taking off from a Missouri airfield were experienced jumpers, including one of the nation's leading female jumpers. Federal investigators were at the crash site Monday, a day after the plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers slammed into a field and burst into flames, killing all on board, authorities said. Some family members of those who died were at the airport to watch the jump and witnessed the crash, said Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson. Authorities have not released the victims' names, but friends and colleagues began paying tribute. The United States Parachute Association, skydiving's governing body, said its technology director, Jen Sharp, was among those killed. "Jen was a remarkable force whose passion for the skies was matched only by her dedication to the people in our sport," said Albert Berchtold, the organization's executive director. Sharp taught skydiving instructors, wrote educational materials and made 6,800 jumps since her first one in 1989, according to her website. She once jumped into Denver's Coors Field ballpark while dressed as the queen of England and was part of the Everest Skydive in the Himalayas, her site said. Kevin Payne, who had jumped with seven of the skydivers on the plane, said they were all different in nearly every way, except that they were all brought together as a "sky family." "There is a joy and peace and freedom to what we do. That's what most people never understand," Payne, of Parkville, Missouri, wrote in an email. "It's not about the adrenaline. It's about really flying together with your family in that brief, exquisite instant that people who live their lives on the ground will never understand." It will be about a month before the National Transportation Safety Board issues a preliminary report , but weather did not appear to be a factor. READ MORE: Skydiving plane crash investigations often reveal poor maintenance and weak safety oversight Investigators have interviewed some witnesses, NTSB Vice Chairman Michael Graham said. The plane didn't have a "black box" like those that record crash data on commercial planes, but investigators will look for other kinds of devices that could provide insights, he said. Skydiving plane went down soon after taking off Emergency personnel investigate the site of a plane crash at the Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, on Sunday. Photo by Reed Hoffmann/AP Photo Witnesses say the plane was roughly 100 feet (30 meters)