BUTTE, Mont.—Investigators probing the Montana plane crash that killed 14 people are looking at ice formation and why the pilot changed his flight plan, but have not rejected mechanical failure, human error or other factors.
The work is complicated by the fact the plane had no cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder, the pilot apparently made no mayday call, and there’s no key radar data on the last stages of the flight.
Investigators say it could take months to pinpoint the cause.
The single-engine Pilatus PC-12 nose-dived into a cemetery near the Butte (byoot) airport and burst into flames Sunday.
CEO Thomas Bosshard of Broomfield, Colo.-based Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd. issued a statement Tuesday offering thoughts and prayers to victims’ loved ones.
