NTSB releases initial report on deadly Butler skydiving plane crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released new information about a plane crash that took the lives of 11 skydivers and a pilot last month in Butler, Missouri. Federal investigators said there were no obvious problems that would have caused the plane to crash. "There were no indications of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures to any of the engine components that would have precluded normal operation," the report reads. The plane met the weight and balance limitations, according to the report, and fuel samples were found to be clean with no sediment or debris present. The skydiving company had no concerns with the pilot, who had been with them for two jump seasons. "The operator reported that they did not have any pervious concerns with the pilot, he was safety oriented, and he was also conservative with his decision making as a jump pilot," the report reads. "The pilot had accumulated over 4,100 total flight hours and his most recent flight review was on October 5, 2025." Multiple damaged GoPro cameras were recovered from the accident site and were transported to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, the report says. During the initial climb, the report says the airplane began a gradual turn to the left. A security video showed the airplane continuing to turn to the left, with both wings eventually becoming perpendicular to the ground before crashing. The report says the plane was consumed by fire when it crashed. According to the report, on Sunday, June 14, at about 11:30 a.m., the Pacific Aerospace 750XL plane registered to Skydive KC – a local skydiving company – took off from the Butler Memorial Airport with 12 people (11 passengers and a pilot) on board. The aircraft almost immediately lost control and descended rapidly, crashing into the ground before bursting into flames near Business 49 Highway. All of the passengers on the aircraft died in the crash. They have since been identified. It was also confirmed by the Bates County sheriff, Chad Anderson, that multiple people had witnessed the tragedy, including family members of the victims. Registration records show that the Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft was manufactured in New Zealand back in 2010. It was registered to a Tennessee-based company, known as SkyHi Aero LLC, and before being operated by Skydive Kansas City, it was used by a Chattanooga skydiving company. According to its manufacturer, the aircraft itself is designed specifically for large skydiving parties and is capable of holding up to 17 passengers. In the hours leading up to the crash, the company had already flown multiple times that Sunday morning. Records show the plane made two previous successful jumps at 9:20 a.m. and 10:32 a.m. At 10:55 p.m., the pilot refueled the plane – and at 11:25 a.m., the plane went back up for its third jump. Skydive KC, the company connected to the crashed aircraft, was established in 1998 and is based at the Butler airport. According to its website, the company provides one of the highest altitudes for skydiving in the region (14,000 feet) due to its distance from the congested Kansas City airspace. The company website added that it places a "great emphasis" on the quality of its facilities and equipment, as well as safety. 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. On the day after the June 14 crash, the NTSB held a news conference, announcing that a preliminary report would be available within 30 days. The agency added that a final report with a probable cause of the crash and contributing factors would also be released in about 12-18 months. You can read the full NTSB report below.