Highway by Butler Memorial Airport closed again as federal officials investigate deadly plane crash
BUTLER, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Butler Police Department said Monday that North Business 49 at the Butler Memorial Airport will be closed as officials investigate a deadly plane crash from Sunday that killed 12 people.
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on Monday. According to the FAA, the plane -- which was flown by one pilot and carried 11 skydivers -- crashed while leaving the airport just after 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The plane was unable to get visual altitude, made a sharp left turn and crashed about 300 yards from the runway.
At the time of the crash, the FAA was not providing air traffic control services. National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Michael Graham said this is common for smaller airports.
"They probably would not contact center until maybe 3-or 4,000 feet on the climb up to their jump altitude," Graham said. "We're not sure at this point if the airport has any recordings of the common traffic frequency or not, but that's something we will look into."
"The NTSB analyzes a wide range of evidence as part of an accident investigation," Graham said. "Beyond just the accident wreckage, including radar video footage, witness statements, audio recordings and more."
The NTSB reported the plane involved in the crash is not required to have a cockpit voice recorder or "black box." The NTSB does not yet know if a black box was in the plane. Graham said crews will also collect electronic devices of those on board, such as cellphones or smartwatches, for additional data.
Sunday's crash has raised questions about the FAA's standards for skydiving and touring flight companies.
Activity flights companies or "Revenue Passenger-Carrying Operations" are regulated by the FAA's "Part 91" rules, which are much looser compared to general travel flights.
This includes no requirements for initial or repeated pilot training and inconsistent vehicle maintenance inspections, according to the Robb and Robb law firm in Kansas City, which specializes in aviation accidents. In 2021, the NTSB requested the FAA establish tighter regulations for activity flight companies. However, no changes have been made.
"It's always frustrating when we see things that maybe the FAA hasn't acted on with some of our recommendations, and then we continue to see accidents in those arenas," Graham said.
Gov. Mike Kehoe said on Sunday that members of SEMA’s Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team were activated to assist. MO MORT-1 is a specialized team with skilled forensics in victim identification that can help local authorities during mass fatality incidents. The Missouri Department of Mental Health Behavioral Health Strike Team also has members deployed for grief counseling and supporting surviving family members.
The wreckage will also be removed on Tuesday and taken to a secure site for further examination.
On May 25, 2024, the airport saw another small airplane crash nearby. A pilot and six passengers on the skydiving flight were able to jump from the plane before the wreck, and no one was killed. The plane was a total loss.
