Two people die as plane crashes in South Lake Tahoe after takeoff

8:00 a.m. update 10/12/15: Authorities spent Sunday removing parts of the plane that remained in trees surrounding the crash site that claimed the lives of two people in South Lake Tahoe.

Investigators say the plane hit trees before crashing behind a home on Tionontati Street just before 5:36 p.m. Saturday, October 10. A fire started which scorched the home.

The force of the crash broke a large tree just feet away from the house.

NTSB and FAA are continuing their investigation into why the Beech 35 Bonanza single engine plane crashed. The El Dorado County Coroner's office is conducting autopsies on the two people who's remains were removed from the airplane Sunday. Identities have not been confirmed and they will be examining dental records according to the Sheriff's Office.

3:00 p.m. update 10/11/15: The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office is reporting that remains of the two occupants of the Beech 35 Bonanza were removed from the wreckage on Sunday just after 12:10 p.m.

At approximately 5:36 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2015, the plane crashed into a home on Tionontati Street in the county portion of South Lake Tahoe. Even though the fire department extinguished the fire shortly after the crash, the residual heat and nightfall prevented deputies from recovering the airplane's occupants. Sheriff’s deputies were posted throughout the night providing scene security until morning when investigators from the coroner's office, National Transprotation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived to continue the investigation.

The identity of the victims is not readily available and will be released at a later date by the coroner according to El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Bryan Golmitz.

NTSB will be responsible for determining the probable cause of the airplane accident.

South Tahoe Now will continue to update this article as more information is made available.

1:30 p.m. update 10/11/15: It has been confirmed that two people died in Saturday night's plane crash in South Lake Tahoe. The identities of the victims will be released by the coroner sometime this week according to Lt. Bryan Golmitz of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.

More details are expected to be released later today.

11:45 a.m. update 10/11/15: No new updates on the airplane crash in South Lake Tahoe. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are still enroute. No confirmed fatalities or where the airplane originated.

The home that burned has been the scene of previous tragedies. According to a neighbor, a fire almost a decade ago destroyed the same home and killed the three dogs inside. And then, a few years later, a neighbor shot himself in the backyard.

8 a.m. update 10/11/15: There are no new details about the plane crash Saturday evening. A plane crashed into a home located on Tionontati Street that resulted in a small fire at the home. There are no official details about the occupants of the airplane. In a press release this morning, South Lake Tahoe officials said multiple agencies responded including Lake Valley Fire Protection District, South Tahoe Fire and Rescue, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, US Forest Service, Cal Fire as well as El Dorado County Sheriffs and California Highway Patrol.

Original Story:

The occupants of a vacation rental in South Lake Tahoe escaped unharmed Saturday after a single-engine Beech 35 Bonanza crashed into it shortly after take off.

Just after 5:35 p.m. on October 10, 2015, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office received a dispatch call reporting a plane had crashed into a house, and the home was in flames. Firefighters were able to put the fire out quickly, before it spread to neighboring homes and trees.

City of South Lake Tahoe Assistant Public Works Director Jim Marino lives nearby and was one of the first on the scene according to his wife Lori. She said Jim rushed over to see if he could help the occupants of the home or plane. The occupants of the home were already out but it was too late for the occupant(s) of the airplane. It is unknown at this time how many were on board the airplane.

Deputies on the scene Saturday night said they couldn't release details yet, and that an official press release would soon be available.

The home, located at 1650 Tionontati Street, was still cordoned off Saturday night and will remain closed through the night. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is on their way to the scene and will be at the crash site first thing Sunday morning according to deputies.

Residents on Elks Club Drive said they saw the plane struggling and clip the tops of trees as it headed towards Tionontati. Local pilot Randy Vogelsang said flying out of the South Lake Tahoe airport when conditions were as windy as Saturday is very tricky. Pilots accustomed to flying at lower elevations such as Sacramento and the Bay Area don't always understand the aerodynamic principles of high altitude flying.

South Tahoe Now will keep you posted as more details are made available.