Mont. Plane Didn't Report Trouble: NTSB

All passengers died when turboprop plane crashed in Butte
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 23, 2009 11:19 AM CDT
Mont. Plane Didn't Report Trouble: NTSB
Officials investigate the scene of fatal plane crash outside the Butte Airport in Butte, Mont., on Sunday, March 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mike Albans)

The plane that crashed yesterday in Montana, killing all 14 aboard, gave no indication to air traffic controllers that the aircraft was experiencing difficulty when the pilot asked to divert to an airport in Butte, a federal safety official said today. There was "no indication of any trouble when the diversion was requested to air traffic control,” National Transportation Safety Board chairman Mark Rosenker said.

The flight was originally scheduled to fly from Oroville, Calif., to Bozeman, Mont., but after the single engine turboprop plane was en route, the pilot notified air traffic controller he was diverting to Butte. The plane crashed yesterday afternoon just short of the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte. Like thousands of small airports across the country, the Butte airport doesn't have radar control. (More Butte stories.)

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