12 killed in skydiving plane crash in Missouri
Twelve people were killed when a skydiving plane crashed in Missouri on June 14, according to the Bates County Emergency Management Agency.
As the skydiving community mourns the loss of several members, federal investigators have begun investigating the wreckage of a skydiving plane that crashed in western Missouri, killing all 12 people on board.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators were at the crash scene June 15, a day after a commercial plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, about 105 miles south of Kansas City. The crash sparked a fire that destroyed the skydiving aircraft, the NTSB said.
According to authorities, all 12 people on board, including 11 skydivers and one pilot, were killed in the incident. Airport Administrator and Bates County Emergency Management Director Dennis Jacobs previously told USA TODAY that the incident was the deadliest crash in the airport’s nearly 50-year history.
The fatal accident involved multiple experienced jumpers and shocked the skydiving community, authorities said. The sport’s governing body, the United States Parachute Association (USPA), said: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of all those lost, and to the broader skydiving community.”
“Our community is close-knit, and a loss of this magnitude is deeply felt across the sport,” the USPA said in a statement.
NTSB Vice Chairman Michael Graham stressed at a June 15 press conference that the investigation is in its early stages and no conclusions have been reached as to the cause of the crash. A preliminary report is expected to be submitted within about 30 days, but the full investigation could take more than a year to complete.
“This is the beginning of a long process and we can’t judge what will happen overnight,” Graham told reporters. “We will continue to collect permanent evidence at the scene, but we will not be able to draw any conclusions at this time until we have all the evidence at the scene.”
Here’s what we know so far:
The skydiving plane made multiple flights before crashing
The USPA confirmed that the aircraft involved in the crash was operating “in support of skydiving activities at Skydive Kansas City.” The organization said Skydive Kansas City is a member in good standing of the sport’s governing body and is working with local authorities and federal investigators to determine the cause of the accident.
The plane involved in the crash was a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, built 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.
Graham said at a news conference that the plane was operating under Part 91 regulations, which normally apply to commercial and some non-commercial aviation operations, including many skydiving flights.
The plane crashed at around 11:30 a.m. local time on June 14, shortly after departing from Butler Memorial Airport, Graham said. Post-crash fire engulfed the plane, destroying much of the wreckage.
The Bates County Emergency Management Agency previously said the plane made an “unexplained turn” before crashing near a local highway. No survivors were found along the flight path, the agency said.
“They couldn’t get more than 100 feet off the ground,” Jacobs said, adding that the weather was great. “It’s very likely it’s an engine issue, but we won’t know until the NTSB report comes out.”
Skydive Kansas City made multiple trips over the weekend before the crash, according to the Bates County Emergency Management Agency. The plane made nine flights between June 12 and June 14, according to FlightAware data.
Federal agents collect evidence from the scene
Graham said NTSB and FAA investigators are working to collect evidence from the crash scene. Investigators are expected to move the wreckage to a safe location for further investigation after completing an initial on-site investigation.
Graham said investigators are also looking at factors such as weight and balance, fuel, maintenance history and overall airworthiness as part of the investigation. Evidence being considered includes witness statements, radar data, video footage and electronic equipment recovered from the aircraft.
Graham said the plane involved in the crash was not required to have a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder, commonly known as a “black box.”
“While we do not expect this aircraft to have had those boxes, investigators will be looking for other types of avionics onboard the aircraft that can be recovered,” he said. “In that case, any of those devices, perhaps even personal electronic devices, could be recovered and they would be sent to NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C., for further analysis.”
Graham said he could not yet confirm any reports of engine trouble or other problems, although witness accounts suggested there may have been problems before the crash. Asked whether the plane’s pilot was trying to make a so-called “impossible turn,” Graham said it was too early to tell.
“We have just started gathering information, so it is too early to speculate about the aircraft’s flight path at this point,” he said.
Skydiving community grieves loss
Jacobs said nine of the 11 skydivers were experienced and two were planning to do tandem jumps. He said multiple witnesses, including loved ones of the passengers, witnessed the crash and were horrified.
“A woman there was watching her brother (on the plane), and his wife was there, too, and she was supposed to be on the plane with them,” Jacobs said. He added that his wife was a regular skydiver but fell out of the plane after being hit by a tandem jumper.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims, but family and friends are beginning to identify their loved ones.
The USPA announced in a June 15 statement that Jennifer “Jen” Sharp was among those killed in the incident. The organization described her as a “respected colleague, leader and dear friend” with an “unwavering commitment to the advancement of the sport”.
The USPA said Mr. Sharp was the organization’s technical director and was “an important cornerstone of our national headquarters and broader skydiving family for nine years.”
“Jen was an incredible force whose passion for the skies was matched only by her dedication to the people of our sport,” USPA Executive Director Albert Berchtold said in a statement. “Her death leaves an unfillable void in our office, our community, and our hearts. We are extremely grateful for the years of laughter, innovation, and friendship we shared with her.”
According to the GoFundMe page, Michael Shanahan’s friend Brandon Carney said Shanahan was on his way to his 23rd tandem jump when he died in the accident. Carney said Shanahan was preparing to retire after a 36-year career as a member of Kansas City Sheet Metal Union Local 2.
“He was a humble man and a very dedicated local,” Carney wrote on the GoFundMe page. “He loved his friends and worked very hard.”
The North Kansas City School District confirmed in an email to the family that David “Dave” Hershberger died in the incident, local television station KSHB 41 and the Kansas City Star reported. Mr. Hershberger was an orchestra teacher at Oak Park High School and Antioch Middle School, according to news outlets.
KSHB “Mr. Hershberger was not only a beloved member of the Antioch and Oak Park family, a passionate educator and talented musician, but also one of the kindest human beings,” the email said, according to 41. “Mr. Schuberger was an inspiration to many students through his love of music and the way he treated others every day. He modeled gratitude and genuine care for all who were fortunate enough to know him.”
Contributors: Drew Pittock and Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY
