Today, June 14, 2026, our hearts go out to the families of the twelve people who lost loved ones when a skydiving plane operated by Skydive Kansas City crashed near Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri. The skydiving aircraft was carrying eleven parachutists and a pilot and crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday morning. Everyone was killed that was on board. Witnesses reported that the plane made a sharp left turn shortly after takeoff and crashed about 300 yards from the runway.

This is an unimaginable tragedy. At Bautista LeRoy LLC, we understand that no amount of money will ever replace a loved one, but we also know that families left behind deserve answers and justice in Missouri.

What Happened in Butler, Missouri?

According to the FAA, a Pacific Aerospace P750 crashed while departing from Butler Memorial Airport around 11:35 a.m. local time on Sunday, June 14. Twelve people were on board. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate in the coming months and eventually a report will be issued discussing the cause of the crash.

A witnesses told the Associated Press that in his opinion the plane appeared to be losing power and the pilot was attempting to land on the highway before stalling and going down nose first.

Missouri Wrongful Death Law and Your Rights

If you lost a spouse, child, parent, or sibling in today's crash, Missouri law gives your family important legal rights. Missouri's Wrongful Death Statute, allows surviving family members to pursue a claim for compensation against the pilot, a skydiving company, their insurance company and possibly the aircraft manufacturer, when a loved one is killed as a result of another party's negligence.

Under Missouri law, the parties who may bring a wrongful death claim include spouse, children, or parents of the deceased; if none of those categories of relatives exist then brothers or sisters of the deceased can bring the claim.

Recoverable damages under Missouri's wrongful death statute include funeral and burial costs, lost income and future financial support the deceased would have provided, and the loss of companionship and consortium. Importantly, Missouri does not have a damage cap for wrongful death, meaning there is no limit to how much compensation can be recovered for pain and suffering.

Do Not Wait to Protect Your Rights

Missouri's wrongful death statute of limitations generally requires that a claim be filed within three years from the date of the deceased person's death, and Missouri courts strictly enforce this time limit. While three years may sound like a long time, aviation accident cases are extraordinarily complex and can take years to resolve. Evidence must be preserved immediately, including flight data, maintenance records, pilot logs, and witness statements. All of these can disappear quickly if an attorney does not ensure they are preserved. At Bautista LeRoy LLC, we will move quickly to protect your family's rights from the first day you hire us.

Call Bautista LeRoy LLC to Help

Losing a loved one in a sudden, catastrophic accident is devastating enough, but having to navigate a complex aviation wrongful death claim against a skydiving company and their insurers makes it even more overwhelming. At Bautista LeRoy LLC, we fight for families who have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. We handle wrongful death claims in Missouri and will work tirelessly to make sure that the responsible parties are held accountable and that your family receives the compensation it deserves.

Contact Bautista LeRoy LLC today at 816-221-0382. We are here to help.