12 Dead in Missouri Skydiving Crash; NTSB Examining Wreckage

NTSB investigation – A skydiving plane crashed in western Missouri on June 14, killing all 12 people aboard, including 11 skydivers and a pilot. The NTSB and FAA began examining the wreckage on June 15, with Vice Chairman Michael Graham saying the investigation is in its earliest

On a day that began normally at Butler Memorial Airport, a skydiving flight went down with no survivors found along the path, and by June 15 investigators were already working to piece together how a plane operating in support of jumps could end in catastrophe.

Twelve people died when a skydiving aircraft crashed in western Missouri on June 14, according to Bates County Emergency Management. Federal investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board went to the site the next day. and the wreckage was damaged by a fire that destroyed much of the aircraft.

The crash in Missouri has also sent shock through the sport’s tightly connected community, which has started naming victims while the federal inquiry is still in its opening phase.

The NTSB probe is already moving, but Graham stressed on June 15 that conclusions are not yet on the table. In a news briefing. NTSB Vice Chairman Michael Graham said the investigation is beginning a long process and warned against expecting overnight answers. “This is the beginning of a long process and we will not be determining what happens overnight,” he told reporters. He said investigators would be picking up perishable evidence at the scene and that no conclusions would be drawn until the agency has all of the evidence. A preliminary report is expected within about 30 days, while the full investigation could take more than a year.

At the airport, the account of how quickly things turned fatal is stark. Dennis Jacobs. the airport manager and director of Bates County Emergency Management. previously said the crash was the deadliest in the airport’s roughly 50-year history. Jacobs also described the height and the conditions: the plane “turned around for an unknown reason” before crashing near a local highway. and the weather was “beautiful.” He said investigators may likely find an engine problem. but “we won’t know until the NTSB report. ” and he added. “They weren’t able to get over 100 feet off the ground.”.

The skydiving plane was a Pacific Aerospace 750XL. manufactured in 2010 and registered to a Tennessee-based company. according to the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft’s engine was manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Canada. It was operating under Part 91 regulations. which Graham said typically apply to private and certain non-commercial aviation operations. including many skydiving flights.

Investigators put the timing close to the runway. Graham said the aircraft crashed at around 11:30 a.m. local time on June 14 shortly after departing Butler Memorial Airport. A post-crash fire engulfed the plane and destroyed much of the wreckage.

Before the fatal crash, the plane had flown multiple trips over the weekend. Bates County Emergency Management said the aircraft flew numerous trips before the incident. and FlightAware data showed nine flights between June 12 and June 14. The United States Parachute Association confirmed the aircraft was operating “in support of skydiving operations at Skydive Kansas City.” The organization said Skydive Kansas City is a member in good standing of the sport’s governing body and is cooperating with local authorities and federal investigators.

Federal investigators are now focused on gathering evidence and narrowing possible causes without speculation. Graham said NTSB and FAA personnel were working to gather evidence from the crash site and were expected to move the wreckage to a secure location after initial on-site documentation is complete. He said investigators are looking at factors such as weight and balance, fuel, maintenance history and overall airworthiness.

Among the evidence being reviewed are witness statements, radar data, video footage, and any recoverable electronic devices from the aircraft. Graham also said the aircraft was not required to have a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder—commonly known as “black boxes.” “We’re not expecting that this aircraft had those boxes on board. but our investigators will be looking for any other kind of avionics on board that aircraft that we be salvageable. ” he said. He added that if any devices. including potentially personal electronic devices. are recovered. they would be sent to NTSB headquarters in Washington. D.C. for further analysis.

Reports of engine trouble or other issues cannot yet be confirmed. Graham said. despite witness accounts suggesting possible problems before the crash. When asked whether the pilot was attempting a so-called “impossible turn,” Graham said it was too early to determine. “We’re just starting to gather information. and it’d be too early to make any speculation as to the flight path of the aircraft at this time. ” he said.

The crash killed all 12 people aboard—11 skydivers and a pilot, authorities said. Jacobs said of the 11 skydivers. nine were experienced and two were set to take tandem jumps. and he said multiple horrified witnesses saw the crash. including some loved ones of those on board. Jacobs said one woman was watching her brother on the plane and that her brother’s wife was there too; the wife. a regular skydiver. was bumped from the flight by a tandem jumper.

The United States Parachute Association issued a statement on June 15 offering condolences “to the families. friends. and loved ones of all who were lost. and to the wider skydiving community.” In the same statement. the USPA said. “The community is close-knit. and a loss of this magnitude is felt profoundly across the entire sport.”.

As families began identifying victims, the USPA confirmed that Jennifer “Jen” Sharp was among those killed. The organization described her as an “esteemed colleague. leader. and dear friend. ” and said she served as the director of technology at the USPA for nine years. It said Sharp was “a vital cornerstone of our national headquarters and broader skydiving family for nine years.”.

USPA Executive Director Albert Berchtold said in the statement that Sharp’s loss leaves an “unfillable void in our office, our community, and our hearts,” adding that the organization was “incredibly grateful for the years of laughter, innovation, and friendship.”

The sport’s losses were also unfolding alongside personal stories shared publicly. Brandon Carney. a friend of Michael Shanahan. said Shanahan had been on his way to his 23rd tandem jump when he was killed. according to a GoFundMe page. Carney wrote that Shanahan was “a humble human and a very dedicated native to the city. ” and that he “loved his friends” and “worked very hard.”.

Local school community grief has also surfaced. In an email sent to families. the North Kansas City School District confirmed that David “Dave” Hershberger died in the incident. local television station KSHB 41 and The Kansas City Star reported. Hershberger was an orchestra teacher at Oak Park High School and Antioch Middle School, according to those outlets. KSHB 41 reported that the email said Hershberger was “a beloved member of the Antioch and Oak Park family” and described him as “a passionate educator and talented musician. ” adding that he was “one of the kindest humans. ” who inspired students through his love for music and the way he treated others.

For now. the facts point to a rapid chain of events—departure from Butler Memorial Airport. a crash around 11:30 a.m. local time on June 14. a fire that destroyed much of the wreckage. and then the start of evidence gathering by the NTSB and FAA on June 15. But what caused the plane to come down remains an open question, and investigators have not yet reached any conclusions.

That gap between grief and answers is what Graham acknowledged outright when he told reporters the agency would not be determining what happens overnight, as teams pick up perishable evidence and work through maintenance, fuel, airworthiness and other factors that could explain how the flight ended.

Missouri skydiving crash NTSB Federal Aviation Administration Pacific Aerospace 750XL Pratt & Whitney Canada Skydive Kansas City Butler Memorial Airport June 14 2026 Part 91 investigative update