Man died in Lake Tahoe after heading to beach to fly model airplane

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe man who died in Lake Tahoe Monday has been identified as 74-year-old Robert Hill.

Mr. Hill left his home in the Tahoe Keys on Monday, August 27, 2018 at about 8:30 a.m. to go fly his model airplane on the Lighthouse Shore beach. According to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD), it appears the model plane crashed into Lake Tahoe and he went in to retrieve it.

At about 11:30 a.m., SLTPD dispatch received a call about a life jacket floating in the lake about 200 yards off Lighthouse Shores. SLTPD Marine One responded and found Mr. Hill floating face-down and wearing his yellow life preserver. Officers recovered him from the water and started life saving measures before he was transferred to South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue engines and medics waiting at the Tahoe Keys Marina.

Hill was transported to Barton Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The cause of death is still under investigation and no foul play nor alcohol/drugs are suspected at this time.

South Lake Tahoe resident Pam Wheeler and her husband Sky were out on their boat Monday morning and found the plane in brush off shore about 200-300 yards from Pope Beach. She told South Tahoe Now that they had been in their boat on Friday, admiring the plane off Lighthouse Shores and how skillfully it was being handled. Pam posted a photo of the plane on Facebook Tuesday, asking if anyone knew the owner as they had found it in the water and were trying to return it to its owner. Law enforcement saw the post and picked up the plane from the Wheelers to return it to Hill's family.