12 dead in crash of plane on skydiving outing in Missouri, authorities say
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- A plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on Sunday, killing all aboard; the group was planning a skydiving trip.
- The single-engine turboprop Pacific Aerospace 750XL, operated by Skydive Kansas City, reportedly lost power shortly after takeoff, stalled, and crashed nose-first, catching fire.
- Emergency responders extinguished the fire, and investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are en route to determine the cause.
- Aviation safety experts note that skydiving companies are regulated under less stringent FAA rules than commercial airlines, and poor maintenance has been a factor in previous skydiving plane crashes.
- The small Butler airport serves around 30 privately owned aircraft, including crop dusting and skydiving operations, with the skydiving season running from spring through fall.