June 14, 2026
Updated June 15, 2026, 9:56 a.m. CT
A skydiving plane crash in Butler, Missouri, on June 14 killed 12 people, including 11 skydivers and the pilot, according to Bates County Emergency Management.
The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport around 11:20 a.m. local time. The plane, identified by the FAA as a Pacific Aerospace P750, was operated by Skydive Kansas City. Witnesses reported the aircraft struggled to gain altitude before attempting a rough turn.
Bates County Emergency Management Director Dennis Jacobs stated that multiple witnesses, some family members of those on board, saw the incident unfold. Nine of the skydivers were experienced, while two were intended tandem jumpers.
“A regular skydiver was bumped from this flight by a tandem jumper,” Jacobs said. The weather conditions were reported as clear during the incident.
Emergency response included the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Bates County Sheriff's Office, and local law enforcement. Troopers were on scene assisting with the response, and no survivors were identified along the flight path.
Authorities indicated that an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would begin immediately, with officials stating that the inquiry could take several days.
This incident marks the deadliest crash in the airport's nearly 50-year history, according to Jacobs.