BUTLER, Mo. — Twelve people were killed when a small aircraft crashed in southern Missouri on Sunday, authorities reported.
The single-engine turboprop plane went down near Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, approximately 65 miles south of Kansas City, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The aircraft was operated by Skydive Kansas City and was carrying a pilot and 11 passengers for a skydiving excursion, said Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff around 11:30 a.m., and some family members of those aboard witnessed the accident, Anderson stated.
“The plane had just taken off and made a left turn before the crash,” said Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director. “In my opinion, I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire.”
Emergency responders extinguished the fire in the wreckage. Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration were on scene, and a team from the National Transportation Safety Board was en route to investigate, according to authorities.
The sheriff emphasized that the incident “appears to be an accident” and there was no indication of criminal activity or terrorism. The Butler Memorial Airport and nearby highway remained closed while investigators were on the scene.
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft was manufactured in 2010, according to FAA records. Aviation safety experts noted that skydiving operators are subject to less stringent federal oversight than commercial airlines or charter services.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Officials said it could take a year or more before the NTSB publishes its final report.