Five dead in Mottsville plane crash

Five people were killed when their twin-engine six-seat aircraft crashed south of Mottsville Lane at about 4:10 p.m.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the aircraft took off from Minden-Tahoe Airport at about 4 p.m.

Witnesses said the plane flew low over the field and then just nosedived right into the ground.

Witnesses said they didn't hear any mechanical distress noises coming from the plane, nor did they see any parts separate from the plane prior to the accident, Halsey said.

"It appeared the plane was flying normally as it passed south across Mottsville Lane and then crashed unexpectedly approximately 500 yards south of Mottsville."

Four men and a woman between 30 and 40 years old were aboard the aircraft, Sgt. Jim Halsey said.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office personnel are continuing their investigation onscene. The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified of the accident. The FAA will handle the accident investigation, and sheriff's office will handle the coroner investigation.

Halsey said identification of the decedents is currently ongoing.

"Names will be released upon notification of next of kin," he said.