MINDEN - A small plane piloted by a Lake Tahoe chef who dreamed of being a commercial pilot misfired and sputtered before it crashed in California airport over Memorial Day, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
A preliminary reported posted on the NTSB's web site said witnesses reported the Piper Cherokee didn't sound right as it was taking off May 31 from Columbia, Calif. The plane had taken off that morning from Minden-Tahoe airport and was beginning the return trip when it crashed about a quarter-mile from the end of the runway and burst into flames, the NTSB said.
Killed in the crash were Melani Toombes of Stateline and Vernon I. Tucker, 85, of Gardnerville.
The 36-year-old Toombes worked as a chef at Harrah's Lake Tahoe but wanted to become an airline pilot.
Tucker owned the plane but because of his age needed another licensed pilot to fly with him. Friends said Toombes flew with Tucker to acquire flight hours.
