Tragic Skydiving Plane Crash Claims 12 Lives, Sparks Safety Debate
WHO:
AP News - Jen Sharp made 6,800 jumps since her first one in 1989 and was known for jumping into Denver’s Coors Field while dressed as the queen of England.
AP News - Kevin Payne described the deceased skydivers as a "sky family" and emphasized the joy and peace of skydiving, stating, "It’s not about the adrenaline. It’s about really flying together with your family in that brief, exquisite instant that people who live their lives on the ground will never understand."
AP News - Jen Sharp, technology director of the United States Parachute Association, was among those killed in the crash.
AP News - Kevin Payne, a skydiver who had jumped with seven of the victims, described them as a "sky family."
NY Post - Eleven skydivers and their pilot died in the crash.
CNN - Jennifer Homendy is the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
CNN - Michael Graham is the NTSB Vice Chairman.
CNN - Gary Robb is an attorney whose law firm specializes in aviation accidents.
CNN - Jeff Guzzetti is a former NTSB investigator and former director of the accident investigation division for the FAA.
WHAT:
AP News - The Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft was built in 2010 and made nine successful flights in the days before the crash, including two on the morning of the incident.
CNN - The NTSB stated that this is the first year of this century with double-digit fatalities resulting from a skydiving plane crash.
AP News - The plane was operated by Skydive Kansas City, which stated, "This is a devastating loss for everyone connected to Skydive Kansas City and for the wider skydiving community."
AP News - The Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft made nine successful flights in the days leading up to the crash, including two on the morning of the incident.
NY Post - A private aircraft made a sudden turn midair and crashed, killing all 12 on board.
CNN - The crash in Butler, Missouri, was the deadliest skydiving plane crash since a 2019 incident in Mokuleia, Hawaii, which also resulted in 11 fatalities.
CNN - The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within 30 days, while a final report could take up to two years.
CNN - The average number of annual fatalities from skydiving has dropped from over 40 in the 1970s to 20.7 in the 2010s.
WHERE:
AP News - The crash site is located about an hour south of Kansas City, Missouri.
NY Post - The crash occurred near Business 49 Highway in Butler, Missouri.
CNN - The 2019 crash took place in Mokuleia, Hawaii.
WHEN:
NY Post - The crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time.
CNN - The NTSB made a formal recommendation to the FAA in 2008 regarding skydiving operations.
WHY:
CNN - Jennifer Homendy stated that paying passengers should expect an airworthy plane, adequately trained pilots, and proper federal oversight.
CNN - The NTSB raised concerns about the pilot's preparation and the lack of adequate training prior to the 2019 crash.
CNN - The NTSB characterized the FAA's response to their recommendations as “unacceptable.”
HOW:
CNN - The NTSB noted that the plane did not have a "black box" to record flight data, but investigators will examine the wreckage for other clues.
AP News - The plane was approximately 100 feet from the ground when it made an abrupt left turn before crashing.
CNN - Skydiving planes are regulated under FAA rules known as Part 91, which primarily applies to noncommercial flights.
CNN - The NTSB's investigation into the 2019 crash found that the pilot's aggressive takeoff maneuver led to an accelerated stall and loss of control.
CNN - The NTSB suggested that the pilot may have felt pressure to take off quickly to return for the last scheduled flight of the day.
(UPDATED June 16, 2026 08:52 UTC)
In a tragic incident, skydiving enthusiast Jen Sharp, known for her impressive 6,800 jumps and her memorable leaps into Denver’s Coors Field while dressed as the queen of England, has died along with others described by Kevin Payne as part of a "sky family." The Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft involved in the crash, which was built in 2010, had successfully completed nine flights in the days leading up to the incident, including two on the morning of the crash. While the NTSB has confirmed this is the first year of this century with double-digit fatalities from a skydiving plane crash, investigators will examine the wreckage for clues, as the plane did not have a "black box" to record flight data.
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(UPDATED June 16, 2026 06:52 UTC)
A tragic plane crash has claimed the lives of several individuals, including Jen Sharp, the technology director of the United States Parachute Association. The Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft, operated by Skydive Kansas City, was making an abrupt left turn just 100 feet from the ground when it went down, and the company expressed deep sorrow over the loss to the skydiving community. Kevin Payne, a skydiver who had jumped with seven of the victims, referred to them as a "sky family," highlighting the close-knit bonds within this community.
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(UPDATED June 16, 2026 04:25 UTC)
A tragic accident in Butler, Missouri, has claimed the lives of eleven skydivers and their pilot after a private aircraft made a sudden turn midair and crashed, marking the deadliest skydiving plane incident since a similar crash in Hawaii in 2019. Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, emphasized that paying passengers should expect an airworthy plane and properly trained pilots, while the NTSB's investigation into the previous crash raised concerns about pilot preparation and FAA oversight. The NTSB typically releases a preliminary report within 30 days, but a final report could take up to two years as they delve into the circumstances surrounding this devastating event.