Small plane crash near Denver kills 10, FAA says

<br>BYERS, Colo. (AP) _ Ten people were killed Saturday when a small plane crashed after taking off in snowy weather, the Federal Aviation Administration said. <br><br>The plane was headed to Stillwater,

Saturday, January 27th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BYERS, Colo. (AP) _ Ten people were killed Saturday when a small plane crashed after taking off in snowy weather, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The plane was headed to Stillwater, Okla., FAA spokesman Roland Herwig said.

Stillwater airport manager Gary Johnson said airport workers were told by an Oklahoma State University official that the plane that crashed was carrying passengers associated with the school's basketball team.

``I'm not sure who was on the other plane. I have talked to coach (Eddie) Sutton, and he is aware that the other plane is not in,'' Johnson said.

KWTV in Oklahoma City quoted Sutton as saying that nearly all the players were back in Stillwater after playing a game in Boulder, Colo.

The plane that crashed was 20 miles south of Denver after taking off from Jefferson County Airport, FAA spokesman John Clabes said.

The Beechcraft King Air 200 Catpass, which seats 11 passengers, crashed at about 5:35 p.m. with a pilot, co-pilot and eight passengers aboard, said Jerry Snyder, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

In Washington, the National Transportation Safety Board said a team headed by board member John Hammerschmidt would fly to Colorado on Sunday morning to initiate the agency's investigation of the crash.

The Oklahoma State team had a Big 12 conference matchup Saturday against the University of Colorado, losing 81-71 to end a five-game winning streak. The team had a 13-4 overall record, 4-2 in league play.