A Pacific Aerospace 750XL on a skydiving flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, killing all 12 people aboard. The aircraft, operating under Part 91 for Skydive Kansas City, went down in the initial climb, made a left turn, and erupted in a post-crash fire.
The NTSB is leading the probe, with the FAA assisting. The loss removes the operator’s aircraft from service immediately and puts maintenance records, crew performance, dispatch discipline, and emergency coordination under scrutiny.
The cause remains undetermined.