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Probe launched into Montana crash | Probe launched into Montana crash |
(about 2 hours later) | |
US officials have launched an inquiry into the cause of a plane crash in Montana that killed 14 people, including seven children. | US officials have launched an inquiry into the cause of a plane crash in Montana that killed 14 people, including seven 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, officials said. He tried to land but crashed 500ft (150m) from the airport. | The pilot was flying from Oroville, California, when he diverted to Butte, officials said. He tried to land but crashed 500ft (150m) from the airport. |
The children were probably going on a ski trip, officials said. | The children were probably going on a ski trip, officials said. |
Karen Byrd of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said seven adults and seven children had been killed. | Karen Byrd of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said seven adults and seven children had been killed. |
Eyewitness Martha Guidoni describes what she and her husband saw | |
That revised downwards an earlier death toll of at least 16. | That revised downwards an earlier death toll of at least 16. |
At a news conference in Butte late on Sunday National Transportation Safety Board investigator Kristi Dunks gave few details. | At a news conference in Butte late on Sunday National Transportation Safety Board investigator Kristi Dunks gave few details. |
"We are just beginning our investigation," she said. | "We are just beginning our investigation," she said. |
"We don't have a lot of information at this time." | "We don't have a lot of information at this time." |
FAA officials said earlier that 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 that the plane - a Pilatus PC-12 Swiss-made turboprop aircraft - crashed at approximately 1527 local time (2127 GMT) on Sunday in cloudy weather conditions. |
'Nothing left' | 'Nothing left' |
The local airport has a short runway and is not easy to land there 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 there 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. |
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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