Twelve people died when a skydiving aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on June 14, 2026.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) preliminary accident report identified the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace 750XL with the tail number N221BN and said it crashed under unknown circumstances during initial climb before a post-crash fire.
The agency listed the flight as a Part 91 skydiving operation. The FAA said the pilot and all 11 passengers on board were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Skydive Kansas City said the aircraft was carrying 11 skydivers and one pilot. The company said it was working with local authorities, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
“Tragically, all 12 individuals aboard lost their lives in the accident,” Skydive Kansas City said.
The crash happened near Butler, Missouri, about 60 miles south of Kansas City. Local reports said the aircraft took off around 11:20 local time, failed to gain altitude, made a sharp left turn and crashed about 300 yards from the runway.
The FAA preliminary report did not state how high the aircraft climbed before the crash. The notification listed the phase of flight as initial climb.
The NTSB is leading the investigation, with assistance from the FAA. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, maintenance records, weather, pilot information and other factors before determining a probable cause.
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL is a New Zealand-built single-engine turboprop utility aircraft. It is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop, rated at 750 shaft horsepower.
The type was developed by Pacific Aerospace in Hamilton, New Zealand, and is now supported and produced by NZAero, which says the aircraft family has evolved from more than 50 years of utility-aircraft development.
NZAero describes the PAC 750XL as an extremely short takeoff and landing aircraft used in demanding operations, including skydiving, passenger, cargo and remote-area flying. The company says aircraft from its Hamilton factory operate in 55 countries and on six continents.