Ice on Wings Becomes FAA's Focus in Montana Plane Crash

While initial speculation was that the Montana crash occurred due to overloading, this became less likely, given that half of the 14 people on board were small children.

The Pilatus PC-12/45, designed to carry 10 people, crashed 500 feet short of the Montana airport runway Sunday. It dove into a cemetery and killing all 14 people on-board, seven adults and seven children.

Relatives said the victims were on a ski vacation, and gave the children's ages as 1, 3, 4, 4, 5, 7 and 9.

Ice on the wings is under investigation because while descending Sunday for landing at the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte, Mont., the plane passed through a layer of air at about 1,500 feet that was conducive to icing.

Ice on the wings reduces the ability of the wings to act as airfoils, and thus impedes their lift.

A conclusion in the crash may be difficult as a private plane of this nature isn't requuired to carry a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder, such as the type carried by airliners and charter services.