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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Probe launched into Montana crash | Probe launched into Montana crash |
| (1 day later) | |
| US officials have launched an inquiry into the cause of a plane crash in the state of Montana that killed 14 people, including seven children. | US officials have launched an inquiry into the cause of a plane crash in the state of 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. |
| One witness said the aircraft was making so many turns before the crash that he thought it might be a stunt plane. | One witness said the aircraft was making so many turns before the crash that he thought it might be a stunt plane. |
| "All of a sudden it went into a nosedive," he told US television network CBS. | "All of a sudden it went into a nosedive," he told US television network CBS. |
| "I noticed the pilot trying to pull up but he was extremely low to the ground and he didn't pull up in time." | "I noticed the pilot trying to pull up but he was extremely low to the ground and he didn't pull up in time." |
| Karen Byrd of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said seven adults and seven children had been killed.The Pilatus PC-12 is a Swiss-made turboprop plane | Karen Byrd of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said seven adults and seven children had been killed.The Pilatus PC-12 is a Swiss-made turboprop plane |
| That revised downwards an earlier reported death toll of at least 16. | That revised downwards an earlier reported 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 - had crashed at about 1530 local time (2130 GMT) on Sunday in cloudy weather conditions. | FAA officials said earlier that the plane - a Pilatus PC-12 Swiss-made turboprop aircraft - had crashed at about 1530 local time (2130 GMT) on Sunday in cloudy weather conditions. |
| There was speculation that the plane, which media reports say is designed to carry a maximum of 11 or 12 passengers, might have been overloaded. | There was speculation that the plane, which media reports say is designed to carry a maximum of 11 or 12 passengers, might have been overloaded. |
| 'Nothing left' | 'Nothing left' |
| The local airport has a short runway and it 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 it 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 to Butte, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Mike Fergus said. | But the pilot cancelled his flight plan at some point and diverted to 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. |
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| 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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