NTSB confirms tail number, provides update on deadly skydiving plane crash in Butler

BUTLER, Mo. -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of a plane crash that killed 11 skydivers and one pilot in Butler, Missouri, Sunday morning. NTSB Vice Chairman Michael Graham spoke at a news conference at 2 p.m. Monday, providing the first investigation updates following the crash, including the confirmed tail number of the aircraft. He started the news conference by expressing his condolences to the families of the victims on behalf of the NTSB, adding that he personally extends his "heart and prayers to each family member out there." Around 11:30 Sunday morning, a Pacific Aerospace plane, which could hold up to 17 passengers, crashed at the Butler Memorial Airport. "A post-crash fire ensued and destroyed the aircraft," Graham said. "The flight was a part 91 skydiving flight." From there, Graham added more context to the NTSB's investigation. He did not give a reason as to why the crash happened but said his group won't be able to figure this out overnight. "We will be picking up perishable evidence at the scene," Graham said. "We will not be drawing any conclusions at this time until sometime later when we have all the evidence. We will start to analyze it, so we will not speculate on anything at this point." He said the organization is working with family members and providing them with resources, adding that investigators will be looking into "human, vehicle and environment" as key pieces of the investigation. More specifically, he says these will include radar, video footage, witness statements, audio footage and more, Graham said. The names of the people who died Sunday were not released Monday afternoon. Bates County, MO Commissioner John Gray says he may know people who were on board. "The first guy I called was a guy that was supposed to be on there," Gray said in an interview with FOX4 Monday. "He's got probably 6,000 jumps. A friend of ours, their daughter was there two days prior, the same plane, the same pilot. All of that stuff you know, it starts going through your head. You start processing and cycling all of these thoughts. and you're just empty. It's like your soul just has this big hole in it, and you're just empty. 'How do I process this? How do I help these families. How do I help the first responders?'" On-scene investigators will also be looking for any avionics -- electronic aviation systems -- on board that may have survived the crash. Graham said it is believed the aircraft may not have had a black box. During the news conference, Graham also confirmed specific details about the aircraft. He said the plane was a Pacific Aerospace 750XL with the tail number N221BN. The aircraft was manufactured in New Zealand and is described as being capable of holding up to 17 passengers. The plane is specifically designed for large skydiving parties. Registration records show that it was constructed in 2010 and registered to a Tennessee-based company, known as SkyHi Aero LLC. The aircraft was also once used by a Chattanooga skydiving company before being operated by Skydive Kansas City. Earlier that day, the company had already flown the plane multiple times, according to FlightAware. Records show it taking off from the airport at 9:20 a.m. and returning to the ground after about 22 minutes. Then, nearly an hour later, the plane took off for another session before safely landing. Skydive KC, established in 1998 and based in Butler, says on its website that it provides one of the highest altitudes for skydiving in the region (14,000 feet) due to its distance from the congested Kansas City airspace. Additionally, the company website states that it places a "great emphasis" on its facilities and equipment, adding that its main focus is safety. "Our equipment is the best money can buy and is maintained to the highest standards," Skydive KC says. Previous reporting shows the company had another crash as recently as 2024. In May of that year, seven people on a single-engine, six-seater Cessna U206C had to eject from the aircraft after one of the passengers' parachutes prematurely deployed, causing complications to the daily skydiving operation. All seven people on board returned safely to the ground, including the pilot. The plane was considered a total loss.  Following Sunday's crash, Skydive KC issued a statement to the public, which said, "This is a devastating loss for everyone connected to Skydive Kansas City and for the wider skydiving community. Our deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and loved ones of all who were lost." "At this time, the focus of the management and ownership team is to assist investigators and tosupport the staff and the broader skydiving community. The entire team is in shock, andthe community is close-knit. We ask for privacy as we direct all efforts toward managing this tragedy and remaining available to authorities as they work to determine the cause," the company added. At this time, authorities have notified all the family members of the victims. Graham said in the news conference that local agencies will be providing the specific details about the passengers. The NTSB says a preliminary report will be available within 30 days. A final report with a probable cause of the crash and contributing factors will be released in 12-18 months. According to Graham, the investigation will be long and tedious, and the agency will not be drawing any conclusions until all evidence has been gathered and analyzed. Witnesses and anyone with information are asked to contact the NTSB with tips at [email protected].