Plane Crash in Butler, Mo. Kills All 12 on Board
BUTLER, Mo. — A plane crashed shortly after takeoff at Butler Memorial Airport around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, resulting in 12 fatalities, authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, a single-engine turboprop operated by Skydive Kansas City, was engulfed in flames after crashing in a nearby field. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson reported that some family members witnessed the incident.
Emergency services, including local fire departments and law enforcement, responded quickly to the scene. Witnesses described the wreckage as a mangled heap of blue and silver metal, with multiple emergency vehicles stationed nearby.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials were present at the scene, and a team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the crash. The exact cause has not been determined, but preliminary observations suggest possible power loss during takeoff.
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft, built in 2010, is commonly used for skydiving and other operations such as medical evacuations. Records from FlightAware indicate that the plane completed two short flights earlier on Sunday, with additional flights recorded over the previous days.
Highway closures will remain in effect as federal investigators conduct their work. While the sheriff stated that public safety is not impacted and the event appears accidental, the investigation is ongoing.
The small community of Butler, located about 65 miles south of Kansas City, has a population of approximately 4,300 residents.