Jen Sharp Death, Obituary: In Loving Memory of Jen Sharp
The skydiving community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Jen Sharp, who was reportedly among the 12 people killed in a tragic aircraft crash near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on Sunday, June 14, 2026. Sharp was one of 11 skydivers and a pilot aboard a PAC 750XL turboprop aircraft operating in connection with Skydive Kansas City when the fatal incident occurred shortly after takeoff.
According to early reports from Bates County Emergency Management, the aircraft departed the airport shortly before 11 a.m. as part of a routine skydiving operation. The flight was expected to carry experienced jumpers on what should have been a standard ascent before a scheduled jump. However, shortly after liftoff, the pilot reportedly initiated a turn back toward the airport for reasons that remain unclear. Moments later, the aircraft went down near Business 49 Highway in Butler, Missouri, triggering a rapid and large-scale emergency response.
Jen Sharp is among the victims being identified or acknowledged by members of the skydiving and aviation community following the crash. Others reported to have been on board include Matthew Swope, Nick Nash, Dustin McKinney, and Dane Cordes. All 12 individuals on the aircraft, including the pilot, were confirmed dead at the scene.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies—including local fire departments, Bates County law enforcement, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—arrived quickly and worked through the wreckage site. Despite their efforts, authorities confirmed there were no survivors. Officials also conducted thorough searches of the surrounding area to determine whether any skydivers may have exited the aircraft before impact, but later confirmed that all occupants remained onboard.
The crash involving the PAC 750XL, a New Zealand-manufactured aircraft widely used in skydiving operations due to its capacity and performance characteristics, has since become the focus of a detailed federal investigation. The NTSB is expected to review all available evidence, including maintenance logs, flight path data, pilot communications, weather conditions, and wreckage distribution, in order to determine what led to the sudden loss of control shortly after departure.
At this stage, investigators have not confirmed any cause of the accident. Authorities have urged the public to refrain from speculation while the investigation remains ongoing. The incident is being treated as one of the most significant recent aviation tragedies involving a skydiving aircraft in Missouri.
As news of the crash spread, tributes for Jen Sharp began to emerge from those who knew her personally and professionally. Within the tight-knit skydiving community, where trust, teamwork, and shared passion for flight are deeply valued, her loss has been described as devastating. Fellow skydivers and acquaintances have expressed shock at the sudden nature of the tragedy and the scale of lives lost in a single moment.
Jen Sharp is being remembered as part of a group of individuals united by their love of aviation and adventure—people who willingly embraced the risks of their sport while pursuing a passion for flight. Her name now stands alongside others lost in the crash, leaving behind grieving families, friends, and colleagues struggling to process the magnitude of the event.
As investigations continue and more details emerge, the focus remains on honoring the lives lost, including Jen Sharp, and supporting those affected by this devastating incident. The skydiving community and broader public alike continue to await answers while holding onto memories of those who perished in the tragedy near Butler, Missouri.