BUTLER, Mo. — A skydiver who witnessed a fatal plane crash that killed 12 people at a Missouri drop zone returned to the sport hours later, leaping from another aircraft on the same day.
Lacy Reynolds was at Skydive Kansas City in Butler on Sunday, June 14, waiting for her next flight after completing a formation jump with friends when the aircraft carrying 11 skydivers and a pilot crashed shortly after takeoff, authorities said.
The single-engine turboprop plane spun out of control and plunged into a field near Butler Memorial Airport, about 65 miles south of Kansas City, around 11:30 a.m., according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and federal investigators. All 12 people aboard died, officials confirmed.
Witnesses, including Reynolds, described hearing a loud thud as the plane went down and burst into flames. Bailey Reed, another witness who was driving nearby with her children, told CBS News the aircraft was "completely perpendicular" and "going fast" when it hit the ground.
"They didn't have time to jump," Reed said. "They were so low to the ground, the parachutes wouldn't have deployed, and there was no way anyone could have jumped and survived that."
Reynolds had just landed from an earlier flight and was in the hangar when the crash occurred. She told reporters she initially questioned whether she could continue skydiving but ultimately decided to make another jump later that day.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause. Details about potential mechanical issues or pilot actions remain unclear as of Thursday. Skydive Kansas City has not publicly commented in detail beyond expressing shock.
Charles Crinklaw, a regular skydiver and regional director for the United States Parachute Association who knew many of the victims, described the skydiving community as close-knit.
The crash is one of the deadliest involving skydiving operations in the U.S. in recent years. The victims included experienced jumpers, according to friends and family members who have begun identifying them publicly.
As of Thursday, the NTSB continued to gather witness statements, radar data and other evidence at the site. No preliminary findings on the cause have been released.
Reynolds' return to the air on Sunday underscored the commitment within the skydiving community, even amid tragedy, though officials emphasized that safety remains the priority as the investigation proceeds.
