Winter Storm warning was in effect, nearby town reported 8" of snow accumulation:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ys/4343688002/

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Authorities say nine people were killed Saturday afternoon after a plane crashed in South Dakota.

Peter Knudson with the National Transportation Safety Board said the Pilatus PC-12 had 12 people on board when it crashed at about 12:30 p.m., shortly after taking off from Chamberlain, about 140 miles west of Sioux Falls.

Nine people were killed in the crash and three were injured. The plane was bound for Idaho Falls, Idaho, Knudson said.

Theresa Maule Rossow, Brule County State's Attorney, said two children were among the fatalities. Three of the survivors were taken to Sioux Falls for treatment. Maule Rossow said their conditions were not being released at this time.

"The men and women of law enforcement, first responders and medical professionals should be commended in their heroic actions to rescue the victims in extreme weather conditions," Maule Rossow said.

According to the Pilatus website, the PC-12 can be flown by one pilot and carry up to 10 passengers.

Chamberlain and central south-central South Dakota were under a winter storm warning at the time of the plane crash.

The NWS said visibility was a half a mile with light winds reported at at the airport at 12:30 p.m. There have no snowfall totals reported for Chamberlain, but Gregory, which is south of Chamberlain, reported 8 inches of snow as of 2 p.m., the NWS said.

Interstate 90 has been closed all day from the Wyoming border to Chamberlain.

Yeah tragic.

Even if it was a mechanical, the margins dealing with anything would be thin.

Of course everything is easier in hindsight. Unfathomable tragedy for the families, with them for the rest of their lives.

The weather looks much better when they took these pictures for the NTSB brief.

https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-rele...r20191202.aspx

The article hints at being overloaded but that may not have been the case with lap kids. Very sad.

The youngest was 7. If your willing to put 12 in a 11 seater then all bets are off. Senseless loss. RIP.

Kathryn's Report: Pilatus PC-12/47E, N56KJ: Fatal accident occurred November 30, 2019 near Chamberlain Municipal Airport (9V9), Brule County, South Dakota

Everything about this story screams don’t go.
Similar to this accident:
https://airfactsjournal.com/2014/04/the-error-chain-in-action-pilatus-crash-at-butte/

PC12 doesn't have holdover times so 5 minutes from deice to takeoff in snowfall. It carries a lot of load, but boots take a lot of performance.
It sounds like they planned this accident really well.

From the manual :

And furthermore:

Seems like the pilot wanted to make the evening addition in the newspapers... and he did. For the remaining 11.... RIP

Thoughts on the condition of the prop blades?


Picture at the bottom of the page...

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/230991

Do not appear to have been generating power at impact. But of course you'd need a professional to physically inspect them to know for sure.