Twelve people died when a skydiving plane nosedived into the ground near Butler, Missouri, moments after takeoff, and families have now begun identifying those lost in the weekend disaster.
The Pacific Aerospace P750XL aircraft carried nine experienced skydivers, two tandem jumpers and a pilot. All were killed when the plane took an unexpected turn and crashed 300 yards from the runway at Butler Airport, south of Kansas City.
Dave Hershberger, a high school music teacher at Oak Park High School and Antioch Middle School in the North Kansas City school district, was among the victims. He had taught band and orchestra for 11 years and was widely beloved by colleagues and students. His Facebook account documented his passion for skydiving, filled with images from tandem jumps.
The principals of both schools released a joint statement mourning his loss. "He was not only a passionate educator and talented musician, but one of the kindest humans," they said.
Matthew Swope, 39, was also killed. His mother, Dorcie Swope, posted on Facebook requesting prayers for her son's family and noting that he "died doing what he loved best." Swope had completed more than 750 parachute jumps and was a cancer survivor. His mother also has three other daughters and two sons.
Another victim, whose father spoke to local media without naming him, was a new entrepreneur with twin baby boys. The father described his son as someone who had embraced skydiving recently, completing up to 500 jumps. "You just never start the morning thinking you're going to die, you know. He had two new baby boys. It's tough," the grieving parent said.
Will Fischer, 23, was among at least four victims who were working toward becoming skydiving instructors and had nearly completed their certification requirements. His sister posted on Facebook about the loss of her "annoying little brother." Kevin Stone, a skydiving instructor in Chicago who made his first jump with Fischer, said he took a group up Monday in the same aircraft model that crashed. "I think that if this stopped me from jumping today, Will would be insulted," Stone said, honoring his friend's memory and passion for the sport.
Other identified victims included Marcus Miller, an experienced jumper; Jen Sharp, director of technology for the US Parachute Association; Nick Nash; Mike Shanahan; Dane Cordes; and Dustin McKinney.
Sharp's loss resonated throughout the skydiving community. The US Parachute Association, which represents 41,000 members, released a statement from executive director Albert Berchtold. "Jen was a remarkable force whose passion for the skies was matched only by her dedication to the people in our sport," Berchtold said. "Her loss leaves an unfillable void in our office, our community, and our hearts."
The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the crash, with preliminary findings expected within weeks. A comprehensive final report is not anticipated before 2027.
The crash raises questions about oversight of the skydiving industry. The NTSB has previously noted that weak regulatory supervision can allow maintenance problems to escape detection. In May 2024, a plane from the same Butler airport experienced a critical failure, though all skydivers and the pilot successfully parachuted to safety before the aircraft crashed.
That incident mirrors concerns the NTSB raised after a 2019 Hawaii skydiving crash that killed 11 people. Investigators determined the plane's wing had been twisted in a previous accident years earlier but was never repaired. The NTSB concluded the Federal Aviation Administration's regulatory framework was insufficient to guarantee the safety of skydiving operations.
Author James Rodriguez: "The loss of a music teacher, a dedicated parachute director, and so many skilled jumpers in one morning exposes the fragile line between passion and risk in an industry that has long operated in regulatory gray zones."
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