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| Probe launched into Montana crash | Probe launched into Montana crash |
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| US officials have launched an inquiry into the cause of a plane crash in Montana, in which at least 16 people died, reportedly including children. | US officials have launched an inquiry into the cause of a plane crash in Montana, in which at least 16 people died, reportedly including children. |
| The light aircraft nosedived into a cemetery near the town of Butte on Sunday. There were no survivors. | The light aircraft nosedived into a cemetery near the town of Butte on Sunday. There were no survivors. |
| The pilot was flying from Oroville, California, when he diverted to Butte, the FAA said. He tried to land but crashed 500ft (150m) from the airport. | The pilot was flying from Oroville, California, when he diverted to Butte, the FAA said. He tried to land but crashed 500ft (150m) from the airport. |
| Reports say the dead included children who were going on a ski trip. | Reports say the dead included children who were going on a ski trip. |
| Eye witness Martha Guidoni describes what she and her husband saw | |
| "We are just beginning our investigation," National Transportaion Safety Board investigator Kristi Dunks told a news conference in Butte late on Sunday. | "We are just beginning our investigation," National Transportaion Safety Board investigator Kristi Dunks told a news conference in Butte late on Sunday. |
| "We don't have a lot of information at this time," he added. | "We don't have a lot of information at this time," he added. |
| FAA officials said earlier the plane - a Pilatus PC-12 Swiss-made turboprop aircraft - crashed at approximately 1527 local time (2127 GMT) on Sunday in cloudy weather conditions. | FAA officials said earlier the plane - a Pilatus PC-12 Swiss-made turboprop aircraft - crashed at approximately 1527 local time (2127 GMT) on Sunday in cloudy weather conditions. |
| The local airport has a short runway and is not easy to land at because it is surrounded by mountains, John Emeigh, a reporter for The Montana Standard newspaper, told the BBC. | The local airport has a short runway and is not easy to land at because it is surrounded by mountains, John Emeigh, a reporter for The Montana Standard newspaper, told the BBC. |
| Reports suggest the pilot had filed a flight plan showing a destination of Bozeman, a ski destination about 85 miles (136km) south-east of Butte. | Reports suggest the pilot had filed a flight plan showing a destination of Bozeman, a ski destination about 85 miles (136km) south-east of Butte. |
| But the pilot cancelled his flight plan at some point and diverted for Butte, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Mike Fergus said. | But the pilot cancelled his flight plan at some point and diverted for Butte, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Mike Fergus said. |
| The children on board had probably been looking forward to a ski trip, Mr Fergus said. | The children on board had probably been looking forward to a ski trip, Mr Fergus said. |
| Eyewitness account | Eyewitness account |
| Local resident Steve Guidoni said he saw the plane nosedive into the ground as he was driving by the cemetery. | Local resident Steve Guidoni said he saw the plane nosedive into the ground as he was driving by the cemetery. |
| "It just went straight into the ground. I went over there to try to help. I thought maybe I would pull someone out of the fire," Mr Guidoni was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | "It just went straight into the ground. I went over there to try to help. I thought maybe I would pull someone out of the fire," Mr Guidoni was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
| "It smelled like diesel fuel to me. There was nothing left of it... You wouldn't even know a plane was there," he said. | "It smelled like diesel fuel to me. There was nothing left of it... You wouldn't even know a plane was there," he said. |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash? Have you been affected by this news? | Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash? Have you been affected by this news? |
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