The aircraft, leased by a skydiving company, took off around 11:20 a.m. local time on Sunday, Bates County Emergency Management spokesperson told the BBC.
Shortly after departure, the plane reportedly failed to gain altitude, made a sharp left turn, and crashed approximately 200 yards from Butler Memorial Airport, the spokesperson said.
Authorities confirmed that all 12 people on board died in the incident.
During a press conference, Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson said the aircraft was not a commercial passenger airliner.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft as a Pacific Aerospace P-750. It said the plane crashed while departing Butler Memorial Airport at around 11:35 a.m. local time on June 14, with 12 people on board.
Preliminary information shows a skydiving aircraft, a Pacific Aerospace P750, crashed while departing Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri at approximately 11:35 a.m. local time on June 14 with 12 people on board.
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) June 14, 2026
At the time of the crash, the FAA was not providing air traffic… https://t.co/FMCN81Jzyj
The FAA also noted that it was not providing air traffic control services at the time of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident.
The exact cause of the crash remains unknown.