Tech executive and thrill-seeking plumber among skydivers who plummeted to their death in Missouri plane crash

By NIC WHITE, US SENIOR INVESTIGATIONS REPORTER Published: 23:40, 15 June 2026 | Updated: 23:57, 15 June 2026 A music teacher, a plumber, a tech executive and a small business owner were among 11 skydivers and a pilot killed in a fiery plane crash. The aircraft went down minutes after taking off from Butler Memorial Airport outside Butler, Missouri, about 11.30am on Sunday, and burst into flames. What caused the crash is under investigation but witnesses said the plane made a hard left turn and tried to land on a road next to the airstrip. Nine of the 11 on board were experienced skydivers with SkyDive Kansas City, some with hundreds of jumps, along with a first-timer solo jumper and a tandem. One of the veterans was Jen Sharp, who was on a coach evaluation jump during the flight and had been skydiving since 1989. Sharp was also an IT Director for the United States Parachute Association for almost a decade, with passions for technology and education. She posted a throwback photo in November from her first time skydiving in Wamego, Kansas, almost 37 years ago. 'My first jump (and second one the same day), November 11, 1989, Wamego, Kansas, Kansas State University Parachute Club,' she wrote. Jen Sharp was among the 12 passengers who died in a fiery plane wreckage in Butler, Missouri Sunday morning Sharp was an IT Director for the United States Parachute Association (USPA) for almost a decade Sharp's friend, Michael Wadkins, announced her death on behalf of her husband, Ray Lallo, whom he said was too distraught to take calls from friends. Another was Marcus Miller, a journeyman plumber from Lawrence, Kansas, who worked with his local union number 441 since February 2023. He was also an avid motorbike rider and shared photos of himself on the road enjoying scenery around the US. 'Rest easy, Marcus Miller. You went doing exactly what you loved. Hope you are banging some Excision for me up there,' his friend Jackson Conrad wrote. Another friend, Christian Erickson, added: 'This was a young man with a lot of motivation, passion, and enthusiasm. He knew what he wanted and would always strive for it.  'I pray for everyone involved and hope everyone is able to step back and catch a breath. It's hard to imagine him not here anymore with us.' Dave Hershberger, from Gladstone, Missouri, was a music teacher at North Kansas City Schools and a member of the Kansas City Wind Symphony. 'Mr Hershberger was a beloved member of the Antioch and Oak Park family and was not only a passionate educator and talented musician, but one of the kindest humans,' the principals of Antioch Middle School and Oak Park High School said in a joint statement on Monday. 'Mr Hershberger has inspired so many of our students through his love for music and the way he treated others every day. 'He modeled appreciation and genuine care for everyone who was lucky enough to know him.' Hershberger played the trumpet and videos of him performing were posted online by friends after his death. He began teaching his passion for music since earning a music education degree from Wichita State University in 1999, joining North Kansas City in 2015 after stints at private schools. Hershberger also performed in the Wichita Professional Wind Ensemble, the Polished Brass Quintet, Opera in the Ozarks, and the Mid-Kansas Symphony. Dustin McKinney was a local videographer who worked at SkyDive KC, filming other jumpers as they hurtled through the air. Sharp posted a throwback photo in November from her first time skydiving in Wamego, Kansas, almost 37 years ago  Marcus Miller was a journeyman plumber from Lawrence, Kansas, who worked with his local union number 441 since February 2023 Dave Hershberger, from Gladstone, Missouri, was a music teacher at North Kansas City Schools and a member of the Kansas City Wind Symphony He was also a father and a keen drummer, and numerous friends - and skydiving customers he filmed - wrote tributes after hearing news of his death. McKinney's friend Marc Woods said they met eight years ago through skydiving and soon became close friends who took their kids snowboarding and ice skating together.  'Dustin, aside from being an excellent skydiver, was an accomplished drummer and made a name for himself in and around Kansas City,' he said. 'I was fortunate in that upon learning that I'd always wanted to play the drums he made it his mission to help make that dream come true.' McKinney then spent four years teaching Woods to play the instrument in his basement.  'What will never be extinguished is my love and admiration for Dustin. He was a friend, a mentor, a husband, a father, a son and so much more to so many people,' Woods said. 'I can say with absolute certainty that the hole left in my heart yesterday will never be filled and I wouldn't let anyone even try because frankly, there will never be another like him.  'If I live a thousand years I will never meet another man like him!' Dustin McKinney was a local videographer who worked at SkyDive KC, filming other jumpers as they hurtled through the air SkyDive KC customer Kristen Simmons added: 'This was the guy that jumped with me and recorded my jump when we went skydiving, he was such a sweet guy and so welcoming.'  Matthew Swope, from Independence, Missouri, was a systems engineer at KPB Brands and expert skydiver of more than 750 jumps. The 39-year-old survived cancer and was a beloved uncle and pilot, though it was unclear if he was flying the plane or planning to jump out of it. 'My heart is more than broken with the loss of my most amazing baby brother,' his sister Rhonda wrote. His mother Dorcie Swope added that he died 'doing what he loved best' and would be missed by his three sisters and two brothers. Hannah Piatt paid tribute to Swope, as well as her fellow 'jump buddy' McKinney. 'Matt kept me calm going up, let me fly the parachute, and landed us safely. I wouldn't have any proof of this without Dustin's videography,' she wrote.  'I am so sorry for their families. They took care of me and were my best friends in the sky.' Matthew Swope, from Independence, Missouri, was a systems engineer at KPB Brands and expert skydiver of more than 750 jumps Nick Nash was a tree lopper in Harrisonville, Missouri, whose work took him as far as helping to clean up storm damage in Nashville. He was a father of two young boys and married wife Katie in October - pranking their friends by pretending the wedding was at their local Buc-ees in Springfield, Missouri, such was their love for the store. 'Oh Nickolas, thank you for making my baby sister so happy and loving her the way you did,' his sister-in-law Heather Ackley wrote. 'You were two peas in a pod.. we're going to miss seeing you wearing socks and flip flops all year long, and just being the goofy good-hearted person you were.' In the skydiving world, he was nicknamed 'flying spidey' and was an instructor. Fellow arborist Dane Cordes recently started his own business, We Care Tree Care in Orrick, Missouri, and made numerous jumps in his spare time. He was recently engaged to Natalie Sickle and had two new baby boys for whom a memorial bike ride from Kansas City to Richmond is being held on Saturday. 'We joked about going out in the blaze of glory shortly after we met talking over those damn motorcycles when you'd stop after rattling my windows with it going by,' his friend Darnell Kay recalled. 'I hope they get answers for this that you get answers for this 'cause the world is a lesser place without you in it  'No doubt someone that was always ambitious out chasing the thrill, smiling and laughing.' Nick Nash was a tree lopper in Harrisonville, Missouri, whose work took him as far as helping to clean up storm damage in Nashville Dane Cordes recently started his own business, We Care Tree Care in Orrick, Missouri, and made numerous jumps in his spare time Michael Shanahan, 54, had been jumping for several years and 'absolutely loved it', his father Bill wrote in his memory. His mother Gloria shared photos of her son, along with his sister who died before him - leaving their parents without both their children. Gloria said the family was experiencing 'unbelievable grief'.  'Seeing the pain on his son Matthew's face, his daughter-in-law Anesa, his six grandchildren, his ex-wife Tonya, hearing the shock of his nephew Taz's voice, our own sibling's sorrowful reactions, friends and relatives,' she wrote. 'Here are photos of our two children. May Michael's soul rest in peace along with his sister, a loss he never got over. 'Two losses we will never recover from. Hearts broken forever.' The youngest known casualty of the crash was 23-year-old Will Fischer from De Soto, Missouri, whose friends described him as an adrenaline junkie. Fischer posted numerous videos of himself to social media jumping out of planes and performing acrobatic stunts in freefall. He also filmed himself paragliding and participating in other adventure sports.  Fischer's friend Trevor Bell said the young daredevil, nicknamed 'Mittens', got his skydiving license in the summer of 2024 and never looked back. 'He found his passion, gave it his all, and quickly proved that he was on a whole other level in the path to mastery of this sport,' he said. 'Will was truly one of a kind, a friend I could never deserve. I will forever miss our post-tunnel dinner debriefs, gymnastics nights, deep talks about life and the universe, car jam sessions, and of course our time in the sky.  'I can only hope to someday become a fraction of the person he was; so free spirited, so much love for adventure, and always lighting up the room with joy and laughter.' The other three on board are yet to be publicly identified.  Officials said the cause of the deadly crash is still under investigation, but preliminary reports showed the Pacific Aerospace P750 only reached around 100 feet in the air after takeoff before plummeting from the skies.  Michael Shanahan, 54, had been jumping for several years and 'absolutely loved it', his father Bill wrote in his memory The aircraft crashed just after takeoff at 11.30am, a spokesperson with Bates County Emergency Management said The Federal Aviation Authority said it 'wasn't able to get enough climb,' and attempted to make a left turn to land on the highway,  'The plane wasn't able to land,' and it crashed and burst into flames near Business 49 Highway, the regulator said. Emergency responders were able to extinguish the fire shortly after the crash, with Missouri Highway Patrol Sergeant Justin Ewing calling the scene 'brutal.' No one on board the aircraft survived, with the identities of the victims yet to be confirmed by authorities.  According to Bates County Emergency Management Director Dennis Jacobs, nine of the 11 skydivers were experienced jumpers, while two were participating in tandem jumps. Jacobs added that multiple witnesses, including family members of some passengers, watched in horror as the aircraft crashed. 'One lady that was there was watching her brother [on the plane], and his wife was there, too, and she was supposed to be on the plane with them,' Jacobs told the outlet. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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