The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report into the June 14 crash of a Pacific Aerospace 750XL at Butler Memorial Airport, which claimed the lives of all 12 people on board, including the pilot and 11 skydivers.
According to the report, the aircraft was operating its third skydiving flight of the day when it departed from Runway 36. During the initial climb, the airplane entered a gradual left turn that became progressively steeper. Security camera footage showed the aircraft reaching an almost vertical bank before crashing nose-first into a nearby field approximately 445 feet from the drop zone, where it was engulfed in flames.
Investigators found that the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 engine was producing power at the time of impact, with no evidence of mechanical failure. Fuel samples collected from the wreckage were uncontaminated, and records confirmed the aircraft was operating within approved weight and balance limits. These findings rule out several early theories, including engine failure, fuel contamination, and overloading.
The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, as neither was required under current regulations. However, investigators recovered several GoPro cameras from the crash site and have sent them to the NTSB laboratory for analysis, along with the aircraft’s aileron control cables for further examination.
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with more than 4,100 flight hours and was described by the operator as an experienced, safety-conscious aviator.
The NTSB emphasized that the preliminary report does not determine the cause of the accident. A final report, including the probable cause, is expected within the next 12 to 24 months.