BUTLER, MO. — The National Transportation Safety Board issued a preliminary report on June 26, 2025, concerning a plane crash that occurred on June 14, 2025, near Butler, Missouri. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 12 people on board, including the pilot and 11 skydivers, during skydiving operations.

The NTSB preliminary report indicated no signs of pre-crash mechanical malfunctions or engine failures that would have prevented the plane's normal operation. A post-accident sample from the fuel truck also showed the fuel was free of sediment or debris. A review of the skydiving business operators' software confirmed that the airplane complied with weight and balance limitations for the flight.

The plane, a Pacific Aerospace 750XL single-engine turboprop built in 2010, initially took off from Butler Memorial Airport at 11:25 a.m. on June 14, 2025. During its initial climb, the aircraft began a gradual turn to the left. Both wings became almost perpendicular to the ground shortly before the plane crashed nose down into a field and subsequently caught fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the aircraft's major structural components, cockpit, cabin, and fuel system. The weather conditions were clear at the time of the crash.

Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director, said he believed the plane was losing power. Jacobs suggested the pilot may have been attempting to land on a nearby highway before the crash occurred. Among those killed was Jen Sharp, technology director of the United States Parachute Association.

Skydive Kansas City operated the crashed plane. Regarding the pilot, who held a commercial pilot certificate with over 4,100 total flight hours and was in his second consecutive jump season with the company, the operator reported no prior concerns. The United States Parachute Association stated that Skydive Kansas City adheres to its safety standards, including all FAA maintenance requirements. The plane had completed nine successful flights in the days leading up to the accident, including two flights on the morning of the crash.

The United States Parachute Association reported that nearly 3.5 million jumps were completed in 2024, with 16 civilian deaths in skydiving incidents. The association stated that the majority of these deaths resulted from human error. The crashed airplane was not required to be equipped with and did not have a crashworthy voice or data recorder. NTSB investigators have recovered damaged GoPro cameras from the wreckage. In April 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a committee would consider NTSB proposals regarding skydiving safety, although the FAA has not adopted the NTSB's existing recommendations on the matter.