Mont. Plane Didn't Report Trouble: NTSB

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.)