Dane Cordes Death, Obituary: In Loving Memory of Dane Cordes
The skydiving and wider aviation community is mourning the tragic loss of Dane Cordes, who was reportedly among the 12 people killed in a devastating plane crash near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri on Sunday, June 14, 2026. Cordes was one of 11 skydivers and a pilot aboard a PAC 750XL turboprop aircraft operated in connection with Skydive Kansas City when the fatal incident occurred shortly after takeoff.
According to preliminary information released by the Bates County Emergency Management office, the aircraft departed the airport shortly before 11 a.m. under routine skydiving operations. Witnesses and initial reports indicate that shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot made a decision to turn the aircraft back toward the airport for reasons that have not yet been officially confirmed. Moments later, the plane went down near Business 49 Highway in Butler, Missouri, triggering an immediate and large-scale emergency response.
Authorities from multiple agencies, including local fire departments, law enforcement, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), arrived at the scene within minutes. Despite rapid response efforts, officials confirmed that there were no survivors among the 12 occupants onboard.
Dane Cordes is among several victims who have been identified or acknowledged by members of the skydiving and aviation communities in the aftermath of the crash. Others reportedly connected to the incident include Matthew Swope, Nick Nash, Dustin McKinney, and Jen Sharp. The group was part of a scheduled skydiving operation, highlighting the close-knit nature of the sport, where participants and crew often share strong professional and personal bonds.
Following the crash, investigators conducted extensive searches of the surrounding area to determine whether any skydivers may have exited the aircraft before impact. After careful examination, officials confirmed that all individuals aboard the plane remained accounted for at the crash site. This confirmation deepened the tragedy, underscoring the sudden and catastrophic nature of the event.
The PAC 750XL, a New Zealand-built turboprop aircraft commonly used in skydiving operations due to its reliability and capacity, is now at the center of a detailed federal investigation. Aviation experts from the NTSB are expected to analyze flight data, maintenance records, pilot communications, and wreckage patterns to determine what caused the aircraft to lose control shortly after takeoff.
As the investigation continues, officials have not released any definitive conclusions regarding mechanical failure, weather conditions, or operational factors. Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation while evidence is being carefully reviewed.
In the wake of the tragedy, tributes for Dane Cordes have begun to emerge from friends, fellow skydivers, and those who shared time with him in the aviation community. He is being remembered as part of a group whose shared passion for flight and adventure brought them together on what was meant to be a routine jump operation.
The loss of Dane Cordes, alongside the 11 others on board, has left a profound impact on families, colleagues, and the broader skydiving community. As Missouri and the aviation world grapple with the scale of this disaster, many are calling for patience, answers, and remembrance for those whose lives were lost too soon.
Dane Cordes’s name now joins a somber list of victims in one of the most devastating skydiving-related aviation accidents in recent Missouri history, as loved ones continue to mourn and seek comfort in the memories he leaves behind.