Plane made sharp turn before crash, airport official says
The June 14 crash killed all 12 people aboard the single-engine turboprop operated by Skydive Kansas City — 11 skydivers and a pilot. The aircraft went down near the runway at Butler Memorial Airport moments after takeoff.
Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County emergency manager director, told CNN the plane was unable to gain visual latitude after taking off, made a sharp left turn and crashed about 300 yards from the runway.
The NTSB’s preliminary report, issued Thursday, ruled out several common causes: the fuel was clean, the aircraft met proper weight and balance standards, and weather was not a factor. The agency said its full investigation and report will take months to complete.