Pilot’s Final Seconds Before Missouri Skydiving Plane Went Down Leave Investigators Searching for Answers — What the Evidence Shows
Law enforcement and investigators work near the scene of the fatal skydiving plane crash outside Butler Memorial Airport. Federal authorities are examining reports that the aircraft made a sudden sharp left turn shortly after takeoff before crashing, killing all 12 people on board. | Source: Getty Images
In other words, what looked like a deliberate move may have been the visible effect of a much larger problem. Jacobs told The Associated Press, in comments cited by CNN, that he believes the pilot may have been attempting an emergency landing.
“I believe he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire,” Jacobs said.
CNN aviation safety analyst David Soucie similarly suggested the aircraft may have experienced a loss of power but emphasized that investigators have not yet determined a cause.
The investigation remains in its earliest stages. According to CNN, National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Michael Graham said investigators do not know whether the aircraft carried a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder. Aircraft of this type are not required to have either device.
That could make determining exactly what happened significantly more difficult. “We will see wherever the evidence takes us in this investigation,” Graham said. Officials have not confirmed any mechanical problems, engine failures, maintenance issues, or pilot-related factors.
