12 Killed in Skydiving Plane Crash in Butler, Missouri
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A plane carrying eleven passengers and a pilot crashed shortly after takeoff near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, killing everyone on board during a skydiving trip.
- The crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time, with all occupants found dead near a field adjacent to the airport.
- Weather conditions were reported as clear and sunny at the time, making weather an unlikely cause of the accident.
- The aircraft, a Pacific Aerospace P750 operated by Skydive Kansas City, stalled about 100 feet in the air and crashed inside the airport perimeter after the pilot attempted to turn and land on a nearby roadway.
- The FAA confirmed the crash happened during departure and noted that air traffic services were not being provided at the time; this marks an unprecedented accident at Butler Memorial Airport.
