Initial report released in fatal Mottsville plane crash

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a preliminary report in the crash that killed five people south of Mottsville Lane on Saturday.

The report confirms what's already been reported about the flight of a Beechcraft BE-95 that killed pilot Gary Annas, Paul Dallas, Leia Denner, Brent Fahey and Beau McGrath.

"Witnesses reported to the Douglas County Sheriff that the pilot had taken four friends that were attending an outdoor working party on a local flight," the report said. "The airplane made two to three passes over the work party. On the final pass witnesses reported that the airplane was slightly above the tops of the local houses, between 100 and 300 feet above ground level. The airplane made a sudden steep climbing left turn, appeared to decelerate at the top of the climbing turn, then dropped towards the ground nose first, and impacted a grass field."

According to the report, the engines could be heard "running perfectly" the whole time.

Federal crash investigators are examining the aircraft's wreckage in the hopes of finding why the airplane made that fatal climb.

A memorial service for Minden resident Dallas will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Carson Valley Christian Center on Stephanie Way.

Friends of pilot Gary Annas are invited to a 2:30 p.m. gathering Saturday at Taildragger Cafe at the Minden-Tahoe Airport.

"We'd like people to come who knew Gary and eulogize him," said owner Meg Getty. "We'll be serving food and have a no-host bar. People are invited to come and remember Gary."

The restaurant is at 1150 Airport Road, Minden-Tahoe Airport.

Information, 782-9500.

Accounts have been set up at Bank of America for Dallas' and Denner's children. The account number for Dallas is 501006806671, and the account number for Denner is 501006806668.