Posted on 06/14/2026 11:15:54 AM PDT by DFG
A pilot and 11 skydivers died after a private plane crashed in Butler, Missouri on Sunday morning.
The aircraft crashed just after takeoff at 11.30am, a spokesperson with Bates County Emergency Management told Fox4.
The plane took off from Butler Memorial Airport when it turned back for an unknown reason before crashing near Business 49 Highway.
A source told the outlet that 11 victims were skydivers, and the other victim was the pilot. All passengers on the aircraft died.
First responders and Missouri State Highway patrol are on the scene of the crash, and are scanning the area to see if additional skydivers jumped from the plane before it crash.
Investigators are working to determine what caused the crash as crews clear the wreckage from the scene.
The Bates County Sheriff’s Office said all lanes of the highway remain closed and has not provided a timeline for reopening.
The Daily Mail reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for comment.
Butler, Missouri, is roughly 65 miles south of Kansas City.
This is a breaking news story.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...
Sent you a private reply
Aviation ping.......😓
Sad. Ironic.
Steve Harvey told Jerry Seinfeld when they did his coffee show, that when a tradgedy happens, its horrible, but, as a comedian,...you know, in our heads..., we already have the jokes. We obviously cant say them then, because we would be crucified. But we got em, ..... we got the jokes.
Butler, Missouri, is roughly 65 miles south of Kansas City. 12 people at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Yes. Exemplified by the phrase “Too Early?”
Just awful. What a way to go.
Couldn’t climb fast enough. Probably overloaded. Weight and balance, weight and balance. A happy day turned tragic. Terrible loss.
“Comedy is tragedy revisited.” - Phyllis Diller
I wonder why they didn’t jump? Altitude maybe?
Aircraft type ?
More likely engine malfunction, turning back may not have been prudent. Sad day for a lot of families with what is designed to be a safe sport.
Lot to be said about sitting by the open door, ear on the engine, eye on the altimeter, ready to roll out with hand on chest mounted reserve for manual deployment.
That's what I'm thinking. According to the article, it crashed just after takeoff, turning back towards the airport for reasons unknown. Not enough time and not enough altitude for anyone to jump from the plane.
My older brother was in the 82nd Airborne...jumped out of perfectly running planes.
Preparing to do the wrong thing.
Plane crashes often happen very quickly.
That’s pretty rough when all the passengers had parachutes but got whacked anyway. There’s a lot of skydiving jokes among skydivers along these lines. Sad.
if at first you don’t succeed, that sport isn’t for you.....
From the internets: "The Pacific Aerospace P-750 XSTOL can carry a maximum useful payload of up to 3,900 to 4,000 lbs."
Seems like with pilot and eleven passengers they should be under the weight limit even with their equipment. Perhaps balance.
Pacific Aerospace PAC P-750 XSTOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.