A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board into a deadly skydiving plane crash in Missouri has found no evidence of engine failure, leaving the actual cause of the June 14 disaster still a mystery as investigators continue their work.
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL carrying 12 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, killing everyone aboard. The single-engine turboprop plane was on its third skydiving mission of the day when it took off at 11:25 a.m. on a clear day about an hour south of Kansas City.
The preliminary report released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board stated there were no indications of any precrash mechanical malfunctions or failures in the engine that would have prevented normal operation of the plane. In fact, the NTSB said the engine appeared to be producing power at the time of the crash. Fuel samples taken from the truck used to refuel the aircraft showed no sediment or debris. The aircraft’s weight and balance were within proper limitations for the flight.
The pilot, who held a commercial pilot certificate and had accumulated over 4,100 flight hours, raised no concerns with investigators. This was his second consecutive jump season working for Skydive Kansas City, the company operating the flight. The operator reported the pilot was safety-oriented and conservative with his decision-making as a jump pilot.
During the initial climb, the plane began a gradual left turn that continued until both wings became almost perpendicular to the ground. The aircraft then crashed nose-first into a field about 300 yards from the runway and burst into flames. The intense fire damaged the aircraft’s major structural components, cockpit, cabin, and fuel system, though investigators recovered damaged GoPro cameras from the wreckage for further analysis.
Jeff Guzzetti, president of Guzzetti Aviation Risk Discovery, an aviation safety consultancy, expressed surprise at the findings. “I was surprised that they had determined that the engine was producing power. Initially I thought it smacked of a potential engine problem and that the pilot had been trying to return to the airport,” Guzzetti said. “The straight up-and-down position of the wings meant they could no longer produce enough aerodynamic lift to keep the plane in the air and the NTSB will have to figure out why that happened.”
The aircraft was not equipped with a crashworthy voice or data recorder as is typical of commercial planes, nor was it required to be under federal regulations. The plane had completed two successful skydiving flights earlier that morning before the fatal third flight.
The 12 victims included 11 passengers and one pilot. Nine of the passengers were experienced skydivers, while two others were preparing to make tandem jumps with instructors. Among the victims was Jen Sharp, the technology director of the United States Parachute Association, the governing body for skydiving in the nation. Skydive Kansas City called the crash a “devastating loss.” Some family members of the victims were present at the airport to watch the jump and witnessed the tragedy.
The NTSB’s investigation into the accident remains ongoing. A final report with a probable cause determination and contributing factors could take 12 to 18 months to complete.
The crash has renewed concerns about safety oversight in the skydiving industry. Poor maintenance has frequently been a factor in skydiving plane crashes, and the NTSB has previously raised concerns about weak oversight for skydiving operators. After a 2019 crash that killed 11 people in Hawaii, the NTSB said the FAA’s regulatory system was not strong enough to ensure the safety of skydiving flights. The Federal Aviation Administration has yet to adopt those NTSB recommendations but said it established a committee in April that will recommend ways to increase skydiving safety and will consider the safety board’s proposals.
The United States Parachute Association said Skydive Kansas City adheres to the safety standards set by the largest skydiving organization in the world, including all FAA maintenance requirements. The skydiving industry maintains it has a strong safety record, noting that last year nearly 3.5 million jumps were completed with 16 civilian deaths, the majority from human error.
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL that crashed was built in 2010 and is a popular model for skydiving operations. According to the manufacturer, the aircraft is capable of carrying more than 4,000 pounds and can take off and land on short runways.