BUTLER, Mo. — Loved ones and friends continued to mourn the 12 victims who died Sunday morning when a skydiving plane crashed after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport.
On Monday, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived in Butler to join Federal Aviation Administration investigators to start piecing together information about the crash.
As they continue their work, we’re learning more about the 11 skydivers on the plane and the pilot at the controls.
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This story will be updated as we learn more.
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Michael Shanahan
One of Michael Shanahan's friends, Brandon Carney, said Shanahan was among those who died in Sunday's plane crash. Carney said Shanahan was on his way to his 23rd tandem jump.
"He was a humble human and a very dedicated native to the city," Carney said in a GoFundMe post on Monday. "He loved his friends, and this man worked very hard."
Carney said Shanahan was getting ready for retirement after a 36-year career as part of the Kansas City Sheet Metal Union Local No. 2.
"The world lost an amazing man yesterday," Carney said. "I have no other words than please keep these children and this family in your prayers because this man will truly be missed."
Jennifer "Jen" Sharp
The United States Parachute Association told KSHB 41 News on Monday that its Director of Technology, Jennifer Sharp, was among those killed in Sunday's crash.
"Jen was a remarkable force whose passion for the skies was matched only by her dedication to the people in our sport," USPA Executive Director Albert Berchtold said in a news release Monday. "Her loss leaves an unfillable void in our office, our community, and our hearts. We are incredibly grateful for the years of laughter, innovation, and friendship we shared with her."
Sharp had worked with USPA for nine years, working to advance the sport, supporting USPA membership and strengthening the organization.
"She spent her career ensuring that our community stayed connected, safe and forward-looking," the organization said.
Rhonda Vuletich, a classmate of Sharp's from Kansas State University, said the two lived on the same floor of West Hall and both majored in music.
Vuletich started her freshman year in 1988, a year ahead of Sharp, who would have begun her freshman year in 1989.
She met Sharp when she went by Jennifer Bennett.
Both were also members of the marching band, where Sharp played the marimba on the drumline.
Vuletich, who lives in South Carolina, said she and Sharp kept in touch via Facebook after college.
"She was just the kind of person you could not miss," Vuletich said. “If you saw her, you wanted to be her friend.”
Vuletich said Sharp discovered skydiving during her freshman year and never looked back.
"She went on her first dive, I think it had to be her freshman year because I remember talking about it with her in the dorm, and I remember her coming back and being so excited that she had done it," Vuletich said. "She was just in love. She absolutely loved it and couldn't wait to do more of it. And so, off she went.”
Even after graduation, she says Sharp’s passion took off.
"She took it from something she enjoyed and made a life out of it," Vuletich said. "She knew the risks that were there, but she loved it so much.”
Vuletich remembered Sharp as someone whose talent and spirit were impossible to forget.
"She was just very, very good. She was very talented on the marimba," Vuletich said. "She was just such a great person. Such a warmhearted, good person. To know her was to love her, absolutely. You don't get that many people that are just that through and through good and smart and talented and just a good spirit about her.”
Dave Hershberger
The North Kansas City School District notified families at Oak Park High School and Antioch Middle School on Monday that orchestra teacher Dave Hershberger was among those who died Sunday in the crash.
"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. 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."
"On behalf of everyone in our community, we have shared our condolences with Mr. Herberger's family. We are working closely with them to provide support where we can."
Hershberger also was a valued member of the Kansas City Wind Symphony.
“This is a huge, huge loss," Dr. Langston Hemenway, conductor of the Kansas City Wind Symphony, said. "Dave was always saying yes for the symphony and to people. We could always count on him. Through all his contributions to the community and commitments, Dave found a way to remain committed and make time for our symphony. He will be extremely missed.”
Matthew Swope
Matthew Swope, 39, of Independence, worked in IT, but every weekend he was up in the sky as he searched for any bit of fun, especially something he could share with others, his best friend, Justin Williams, said.
“He loved it. He gets to take people on their once-in-a-lifetime adventure every weekend, multiple times a day,” Williams said.
After Swope's death, Williams said, he’s terrified to go skydiving again but also knows he has to because his friend knew to truly live is to take risks.
“It’s scary to be in the door, but the moment you let go, it dissolves away and induces a state of presence that you will not find anywhere else," Williams said of free falling. "You don’t worry about the future. You’re not sad about the past. You’re just present, and it’s the most peaceful experience.”
Dustin McKinney
Dustin McKinney's wife said her husband was meticulous about safety when he jumped after his love for skydiving prompted him to get sober seven years ago.
“It feels like this is the only way that skydiving could have taken out Dustin, because it was such a freak accident,” Kathryn Nold said. “It was the most horrific thing. It’s still very surreal.”
McKinney, 44, worked at a furniture store and played drums in Kansas City-area bands. He and his wife lived in Stilwell, Kansas.
The father of two also had a part-time paying gig as a videographer for Skydive Kansas City.
“He could just immediately make people feel seen and warm and want to be around him, and I just feel infinitely lucky that we were the center of his world and able to experience that love from him that he gave so effortlessly to everyone,” Nold said of her high school sweetheart.
Blake Thacker
Blake Thacker, 25, of Olathe, jumped for seven years since first skydiving on his 18th birthday. He was set to get his skydiving coach certification over the weekend, his mother Sherry said.
“Skydiving had given him the confidence to do other things in his life, to be successful and reach for things maybe he thought he wasn’t good enough to do," she said.
Thacker was an aviation software engineer and his mother saw that same methodical safety-oriented focus in his hobby.
“He said, ’Mom, the danger in skydiving is really not the diving, it’s the plane,'” she recalled.
Kurt John Roy
Kurt John Roy, 69, of Windber, Pennsylvania
Sai Karthik Varma Datla
Sai Karthik Varma Datla, 24, of India
Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller, 30, of Lawrence, Kansas
Nicholas Nash
Nicholas Nash, 40, of Harrisonville, Missouri
William Fischer
William Fischer, 23, of De Soto, Kansas
Dane Cordes
Dane Cordes, 26, of Richmond, Missouri
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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