Pilot in fatal Mottsville crash identified

The pilot of the airplane in a fatal crash south of Mottsville Lane on Saturday has been identified as Gary Annas, 58, of Minden, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Passenger Beau McGrath of New Jersey, who was working at Kirkwood, has been identified as the aircraft's fifth occupant.

Minden resident Paul Dallas, 43, and Gardnerville residents Leia Denner, 40, and Brent Fahey, 30, were previously identified as passengers on board the aircraft that went down at about 4:10 p.m. on Saturday.

Federal investigators were wrapping up their examination today of the site where five people died what may be Douglas County's deadliest airplane crash in 45 years.

Van S. McKenny IV, an aerospace engineer with the National Transportation Safety Board, said the wreckage along Mottsville Meadows will be taken to California Monday morning for further examination.

McKenny spent Sunday examining the wreckage of the Beech twin-engine aircraft that took off from Minden-Tahoe Airport 4 p.m. Saturday.

Federal investigators arrived on-scene at about 7:20 p.m. Saturday, and worked on their preliminary investigation.

Douglas County deputies are keeping an eye on the wreckage tonight until the NTSB begins its recovery on Monday.

Sheriff Ron Pierini described the final moments before the twin-engine aircraft went down as reported by witnesses to the crash.

The plane flew south 200-300 feet above a branding party before crossing Mottsville Lane.

About 500 yards south of Mottsville, the plane pulled up, and then nosed over into the ground not far from a home on the end of Mottsville Meadows.