An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now underway following a small aircraft crash in Butler, Missouri, which left 12 people dead. The plane was carrying passengers embarking on a planned afternoon skydive when it went down near Butler Memorial Airport at approximately 11:27 a.m. on Sunday, June 14, bursting into flames upon impact and killing everyone on board.
What happened?
The aircraft, a single-engine Pacific Aerospace 750XL, had not long taken off from Butler Memorial Airport (BUM) and was taking passengers up for a planned skydiving trip when the incident occurred. Shortly before 11:30 a.m., the plane pitched downwards and crashed in a field close to the airport. Upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames, with videos taken by witnesses showing the still-smoking wreckage being tended to by fire crews.
Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County emergency management director, told Reuters that aircraft took off around 11:20 a.m. but failed to gain altitude before making a sharp left turn and crashing approximately 300 yards from the runway. Why this occurred has not yet been determined.
Shortly after the news of the crash became public, the aircraft’s operator, Skydive Kansas City, confirmed that 12 people had been killed in the incident.
What comes next?
The Bates County Coroner’s Office has now officially identified all 12 victims of the crash, with county coroner Jerret J. Reno saying that his office was able to do this using the plane’s manifest and next of kin notification. 11 of the 12 on board the aircraft were skydivers, with the pilot also being killed in the incident. However, authorities have not yet declared who was piloting the plane.
Reno said his office waited to release the names of the victims to give their friends and families time to reach out to extended relatives, stating:
“We ask that you allow time and pray for everyone involved as this investigation will take months to complete and has touched people nationwide. God bless you all.”
The coroner also confirmed that his office is to cooperating with local, state and federal agencies to investigate the potential causes of the fatal crash.
Michael Graham, vice chairman of the NTSB, has stated that the agency will release a preliminary report about its findings regarding the incident within 30 days. However, he also cautioned that the full investigation, which will include picking up evidence from the scene, could take 12 to 18 months.
What do you think about this recent incident? Please feel free to share your thoughts or condolences in the comments.
