Families of victims in fatal Butler, Mo., plane crash retain well-known Kansas City aviation law firm

KSHB 41 reporter Isabella Ledonne covers issues in Overland Park and Johnson County and around government accountability. Share your story with Isabella.

The families of two of the 12 victims in a fatal skydiving plane crash in Butler, Missouri, have retained a Kansas City-based aviation law firm to investigate the crash.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Katie Nash, the wife of Nick Nash, who was among the 12 people killed in Sunday's crash, retained Robb & Robb LLC. The family of Dane Cordes, another victim in the crash, also retained Robb & Robb LLC.

“These lives were cut tragically short by this devastating and preventable disaster,” said Andrew Robb, partner at Robb & Robb. “Our investigation will determine exactly what happened, preserve critical evidence, and ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable.”

A small memorial wreath sits at the crash site in honor of the 12 victims. The Sunday morning crash has rocked the skydiving community.

Al Miller

"These things don't happen," Charles Crinklaw, the central regional director of the US Parachute Association, said. "They just don't happen."

As the community comes together to pay tribute to the victims, Robb & Robb law firm is preparing to launch their own investigation into the crash.

The law firm has represented victims of prior major skydiving plane crashes in Missouri in 1998 and 2006. They also represented Vanessa Bryant after a helicopter crash killed her husband, basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, in 2020.

"It was especially devastating for us to see that another one had happened, and likely due to what we believe to be a catastrophic loss of power to the aircraft," Brittany Sanders Robb said.

The law firm's independent investigation will include examination of the aircraft’s maintenance history, the skydiving operator’s safety practices and procedures, and the safety and performance of the aircraft’s engine and sub-components.

Robb & Robb has retained a team of aviation investigators — including pilots, mechanics, engineers and accident reconstructionists — to assist the investigation.

No lawsuit has been filed yet, but that could be a possibility if the firm finds a history of negligence with the skydiving company, plane manufacturers or even the airport.

KSHB 41 News

"We are currently investigating concerns with safety and prior reports of concerns of that nature," Sanders Robb said.

The firm is also investigating prior incidents at the airport and with the company, Skydive KC.

In 2024, a skydiving plane crashed after a jumper's parachute damaged parts of the plane. Everyone on board survived, but the plane was destroyed.

The National Transportation Safety Board previously called on the Federal Aviation Administration to enforce stricter regulations for skydiving planes, but those changes have not been implemented or approved.

"It's certainly our hope, and the hope of these families, that this can be the case that makes change, and that their loss can hopefully save other families from going through it," Sanders Robb said.

Sanders Robb told KSHB 41 News she believes Sunday's crash could have been avoided.

"We do think at this point in time that this could have been prevented," Sanders Robb said. "From our standpoint, they're not following the more stringent safety standards that they should be."

The NTSB has not released their report on what officially caused the crash. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.

KSHB 41 News reached out to Skydive KC for a comment about the law firms representation of the victims families, but received no response.
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