TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Topeka man Chris Phelps knew the passengers killed in Sunday’s Butler, MO., plane crash well.

“I was on that plane last weekend, on that specific plane,” he said.

Phelps has been skydiving 318 times, including several jumps with the late passengers.

“I’ve got friends of mine not only that passed away in the drop zone, but I got friends of mine that were at the drop zone that witnessed it, and they couldn’t do anything,” he said. “From what I understand, the fuel was too hot, and they had to sit there and watch their friends perish.”

He says the friends he’s made skydiving are like family.

“It’s been very rough, you know,” Phelps said. “The skydiving community is a family. We’re a bunch of, I call it, to the people I describe to my friends and family, we’re a bunch of misfits that found a place to fit in.”

And he’s relying on the skydiving community as he grieves Sunday’s incident.

“We’ve been talking to people on the phone, calling or texting and through Facebook, things like that,” Phelps said. “Just kind of be there and support each other, tell stories about each other, everybody that we know.”

Phelps said he could have actually been on the plane with them if not for other plans this weekend.

“My prayers go out to them, for sure,” he said.

Phelps says he plans to continue skydiving, as he calls the crash a plane incident, rather than a skydiving incident.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A plane crash on Sunday morning in Butler, Missouri left twelve people dead. However, with multiple local and federal agencies looking into and investigating the crash, questions remain.

Later Sunday afternoon, FOX4 spoke with aviation attorney Pablo Rojas about what could have happened or led to the crash.

Rojas says that while the aircraft that crashed, a Pacific Aerospace PAC750XL, is a common aircraft used for skydiving operations, the pending investigations could provide final details on what occurred.

“There are certainly larger aircraft out in the market that can be used for 20, 30 passengers. So, this sounds kind of close to the limit. I don’t want to speak too rashly that it is, but that’s certainly one thing investigators are going to look at– both the number of occupants as well as just the size and weight. An aircraft isn’t just concerned with the number of people on board; it has to take off with a certain amount of weight, and that’s another detail that investigators will surely be looking at.”

However, Rojas went on to emphasize the tragic nature of the crash and what others should look for if they plan on taking part in a similar activity or experience.

“It’s one of the tragic aspects of this event– that, obviously, 11 people, which is not to minimize the loss of the pilot too, but 11 people left their homes or left where they work looking for a fun, recreational activity, and obviously it tragically ended in a huge loss of life,” he said. “I think any time people undertake any remotely dangerous or thrilling activity, it’s good to take a close look at the waiver provisions and understand that in the worst scenario, which obviously you don’t hope to happen anytime you go on one of these activities, that you’re preserving your rights as much as you can.”

Another importance in the context of Sunday’s events is the difference between commercial flights and private operations. As Rojas deals with litigation surrounding flights of all kinds, he offered his insight.

For example, large commercial flights have many more checks and balances when it comes to taking off. A private flight, like a skydiving operation, may have minimal time in between takeoffs.

“You know, recently almost every flight that I board is delayed for one reason or another, and probably half the time it’s some double or triple checking of maintenance. That is way beyond what happens in private and small aircraft settings,” Rojas said.

Reports show that Sunday’s flight that crashed went down sometime around 11:30 a.m.

According to flight radar, a Pacific Aerospace 750XL took off from the airport Sunday morning, and reached an altitude of about 13,400 feet before descending for about two minutes at a rapid speed of 227 mph.

The aircraft is capable of holding up to 17 passengers and serves as a common plane for large skydiving parties. 

The same type of plane took off earlier Sunday morning for a separate flight. Flight Aware shows the aircraft leaving the airport at 9:20 a.m. and returning about 22 minutes later. It then went back up in the air about an hour later.

For more information on attorney Pablo Rojas, his firm and aviation law, click here.

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 14 drawing

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Prime Time: 14

Night Owl: 06

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Winning Show Me Cash numbers from June 14 drawing

02-04-06-21-36

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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