Plane crash kills 12 people in one of the deadliest US skydiving incidents in decades

Published
June 15, 2026
Location
Butler, Missouri
Butler Memorial Airport
View on map
Incident type
Crash, Aircraft, Fire

Summary

Car Crash Butler Missouri in Butler, Missouri: A single‐engine turboprop plane crashed moments after taking off from Butler Memorial Airport in western Missouri at about 11:35 a.m. on Sunday, killing the pilot and 11 passengers who were preparing to skydive. The aircraft made a sharp left turn and plunged into a field near the runway, where it caught fire. Investigators are examining possible engine failure or loss of power as the cause of the accident.

Publicly reported parties

Name Role Status
Unnamed Pilot Driver Fatal
Dave Hershberger Passenger Fatal
Mike Shanahan Passenger Fatal
Unnamed Passenger Passenger Fatal

Original reporting

Plane crash kills 12 people in one of the deadliest US skydiving incidents in decades | Kten News | kten.com

Related accident news