Photo: Shutterstock Federal authorities have launched an investigation after a skydiving aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from an airport in Missouri on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
According to preliminary information released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft involved was a Pacific Aerospace P750, a model commonly used for skydiving operations. The plane went down at approximately 11:35 a.m. local time after departing Butler Memorial Airport.
Authorities said 12 people were on board the aircraft at the time of the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft crashed while departing the airport. The agency also noted that it was not providing air traffic control services at the time of the incident, a common situation at many smaller regional airports that operate without a staffed control tower.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has expressed condolences after the “tragic crash” and offered support to families affected.
“Our hearts go out those who lost loved ones in today’s tragic crash of a skydiving plane near Butler Memorial Airport,” Kehoe said in a statement posted on social media.
Emergency crews and state agencies were quickly mobilized in the aftermath of the incident. The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that its Aviation Division has been on scene assisting local authorities since the immediate aftermath of the crash and will continue support “for as long as its assistance is required.”
The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency also responded alongside members of its Disaster Medical Assistance Team. At the request of Bates County, officials activated the state’s Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team, known as MO MORT-1, which specializes in forensic identification work during mass fatality incidents.
Mental health support teams were also deployed. The Missouri Department of Mental Health Behavioral Health Strike Team, trained in grief counseling and crisis response, was sent to assist surviving family members and first responders dealing with the emotional toll.
Local and national partners are also supporting the response effort. The American Red Cross Missouri team is in the area providing assistance to those affected.
Kehoe praised the coordinated response, saying, “We appreciate the work of partners like the Red Cross, which has a team in the area to assist all those in need of support as well as all the local first responders who are responding to a heartbreaking tragedy in their small community.”
He added that the state would continue to provide all available resources as the investigation and recovery efforts continue.
Photo: Aerospace Trek / Shutterstock.comThe Pacific Aerospace P750 is a utility aircraft widely used worldwide for skydiving operations because of its ability to carry multiple jumpers and operate from relatively short runways. The aircraft has become a familiar sight at parachuting centers across the United States and other countries.
The National Transportation Safety Board will take the lead in investigating the accident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance history, flight conditions, pilot qualifications, and any available witness accounts to determine what caused the crash.
The crash is the latest aviation incident to draw the attention of federal investigators as authorities continue to monitor safety across both commercial and recreational aviation sectors.
At the end of May, one person died and another suffered critical injuries as a result of a skydiving accident in Perris, California. In mid-May, a small aircraft crashed into a house in Akron, Ohio.