Federal investigators set to probe reason for Butler plane crash that killed 12
Federal investigators are set to begin a probe into the Butler plane crash that killed 12 people Sunday morning.
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board, which is expected to lead the investigation into the fatal crash, had arrived at the crash site near Butler Memorial Airport, a representative for the agency told The Star in an email Monday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration referred a reporter to the NTSB.
NTSB Vice Chair Michael Graham, one of four current members of the federal board that oversees investigations into aviation incidents in the country, is expected to brief the media about the agency’s investigation into the Butler crash Monday afternoon.
Bates County authorities said a skydiving plane, a Pacific Aerospace 750XL single-engine turboprop built in 2010, crashed as it was taking off from Butler Memorial Airport around 11:30 a.m. Sunday. All 12 occupants perished in the crash.
A former Department of Transportation inspector general told The Star Sunday that the plane did not appear to be overloaded or too old to be used for skydiving.
“As planes go, this is not geriatric yet,” said Mary Schiavo, who served as U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general from 1990 to 1996. “We wouldn’t call this ‘tired iron.’ My first guess would be there was a problem with the engine.”
This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 1:22 PM.
