A single engine plane traveling from the Redlands in California, crashed in Butte, Montana on March 22, 2009, killing 14 people, many of them children. The plane crashed in the Holy Cross Cemetery after taking a nose dive, according to witnesses. It is believed the plane was carrying the children to Bozeman for a ski trip.The Montana Standard: Small plane crashes in Holy Cross cemetery; 17... (March 22, 2009)

On March 23, 2009, The Los Angeles Times reported that the Pilatus PC-12 that crashed in Butte, Montana was carrying more passengers than was recommended. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Pilatus PC-12 is only designed to carry 11 passengers, but was carrying 14.L.A. Times: 2 families among 14 killed... (March 23, 2009)

The Pilatus PC-12 was introduced in the U.S. in 1994. According to the National Transportation Safety Board there have been 15 accidents since 2001, and only six have involved fatalities. Most of the models are designed to seat 9 or 10 people, but it is believed the one that crashed in Montana seated 12. A spokesman for the FAA, however, said 14 to 17 people were onboard the one that crashed in Butte, and there are questions as to whether or not that many people could have been safely accommodated.The New York Times: At Least 14 Are Killed in Plane Crash in Montana (March 22, 2009)