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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - At the recent Tahoe Chamber Blue Ribbon Awards there was a slide in the presentation about the South Shore being a location in the filming of the sequel to Tom Cruise's epic Top Gun movie.

But since that day nobody can be found that can officially confirm this.

9/4/18 7:30 p.m. update: Firefighters have gained a containment line around 95 percent of the Slide Fire. The total land that has burned remains at 64 acres.
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8:30 p.m. update 9/3/18: The Slide Fire that started around 2:15 p.m. Sunday is now 50 percent contained and has burned 64 acres. The fire was caused after a recreational aircraft crashed one mile southeast of the Winter Creek Lodge in the Slide Bowl area of the Mt. Rose Ski Resort.

It has been confirmed that one person died in the crash. The FAA is investigating the cause of the crash.

UPDATE 11:45 A.M. 2/20/18: The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) has identified the deceased pilot as 64-year-old Stephen Filice. For more on the story: http://southtahoenow.com/story/02/20/2018/minden-man-identified-mondays-plane-crash-victim.

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UPDATE 3:00 P.M.: One person died in the single airplane crash in Douglas County Monday, February 19, 2018.

August 4 update: The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The pair's parachute deployed but there was an unknown problem that caused it to not slow their descent.

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Update 2:55 p.m.: At approximately 10:15 am on Thursday, August 3rd, 2017, deputies of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were called to a report of two skydivers down near the Minden Airport. Upon arrival, deputies found two deceased skydivers on the ground outside the perimeter of the airport.

A major restoration project of the Upper Truckee River channel and surrounding meadows is about to be completed, three years and $7 million later. Known as Reach 5, the U.S. Forest Service project is improving the river channel stability and aquatic habitat along 1.2 miles of the river adjacent to the Lake Tahoe Airport.

Another goal of the project is to restore surface and subsurface channel connectivity to 120 acres of floodplain, increasing deposition of fine sediments and nutrient uptake on the floodplains as well as raising the ground water levels in the meadow.

Through grants from the FAA and Caltrans, the Lake Tahoe Airport is currently undergoing the third of five phases of ramp modifications due to accommodate changing aircraft lengths and weights.

The apron that is currently being revamped hasn't been upgraded since 1984.

More business jets and other large business aircraft are landing at the Lake Tahoe Airport, many of what are scene during the annual American Century Golf Championship.

If you own a drone weighing more than 0.55 lbs. but less than 55 lbs., and you’ve been flying it outdoors or plan to fly it outdoors for hobby or recreation, federal law requires you to register by this Friday, February 19, 2016. More information is available online at http://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/

Now that the gift giving season is upon us, many people may have model airplanes, drones or quadcopters on their wish list. There are some new rules in place that all users of the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) need to know.

The Federal Aviation Administration today that all UAS units weighing between 0.55 pounds and 50 pounds must be registered by February 19th, 2016.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the two people killed in Saturday's plane crash in South Lake Tahoe.

California residents 73-year-old Conrad Yu of Oakley, and Mary Choy, 66, of San Francisco were killed when Yu's plane crashed shortly after take-off in the area near Elks Club Road an Pioneer Trail. The plane crashed into a tree adjacent to a home on Tionontati.

NTSB and the FAA continue their investigation in order to determine the cause of the crash.

Two men suffered moderate injuries Wednesday after a small plane went down at the Georgetown Airport, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said.

Emergency personnel from several agencies, including Cal Fire, Georgetown Fire and El Dorado County Fire responded, finding the single engine Luscombe plane down an embankment near the runway.

The impact of the crash bent the nose up almost 90 degrees.

People familiar with the aircraft's two occupants told FOX40 both are longtime Georgetown residents, and one is the owner of the plane and a flight instructor.

After years of planing and months of public input, the new Airport Master Plan for South Lake Tahoe was presented to the community on Tuesday. About a dozen people attended to see and hear what the final plan might look like.

Since buying the Tahoe Valley Airport from El Dorado County in 1983 for $1, the City of South Lake Tahoe has been supporting its operation which at one time saw almost 300,000 people a year pass through.

Twice in the last week, people flying drones disrupted wildfire operations in Southern California, causing federal, state and local wildfire managers to come out with a warning to the public, "Do not fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within or near wildfires."

With the South Lake Tahoe airport not having scheduled passenger service since 2001, and with a master plan last updated in 1992, it was time to create a new plan based on the needs of the area today, and in the future.

The FAA gave funding support to the City to initiate the new master plan in 2013. The recommended development shall be presented in three planning periods; short-term (2015 to 2019), intermediate-term (2020 to 2024), and long-term (2025 to 2034).

The following is a summary of accomplishments during 2014 by the City of South Lake Tahoe.

Strategic Priority: Fiscal Sustainability
The most important issue facing cities and local agencies is continued steadfast attention to the budget, both short term and long term fiscal impacts.

· Implemented “budget watch” approach to financial analysis; a year-long effort evaluating state, national and global economic impacts for South Shore economy, and capital investment opportunities

The last time emergency response processes were tested in South Lake Tahoe was during the 2007 Angora Fire. In order to test communication, responses and evaluate procedures, a mock disaster drill was held at the Tahoe Valley Airport Monday.

February's community meeting on the South Lake Tahoe Airport Master Plan was attended by dozens of residents interested in the future of the airport. As promised, the consultants on the project have released all of the comments collected during and after the meeting.

The list of all the public comments and responses are now available on line at http://www.cityofslt.us/airportpubliccomments.

Cloud seeding drones may soon be used to help get more punch out of Sierra storms. The unmanned aircrafts could provide significant benefits by getting more snow on the slopes and boosting water supply.

Jeff Tilley of Reno’s Desert Research Institute (DRI) unveiled one of three drones in the country at Thursday’s Operation Sierra Storm held in South Lake Tahoe. The drone will soon be tested to seed clouds in order to get more moisture out of storms to help in times of drought.

A pilot and two passengers escaped injury Wednesday after a plane crash northeast of Spooner in the Kings Canyon area, Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong confirmed.

The passengers of the aircraft were taken by Carson City Fire and Rescue to the staging area at the Kings Canyon Trailhead where they signed statements with the Carson City Sheriff's Office. Both declined comment. An official at the scene said the three had taken a flight to celebrate the birthday of a 23-year-old female passenger and that both passengers were shaken and didn't wish to speak. It is believed but not confirmed the flight originated from Lake Tahoe.

UPDATE: The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident of an overdue plane from the Minden-Tahoe Airport.
A Cessna model 172, red and white in color, bearing tail number N328SP, left the Minden Airport Wednesday at around 5 p.m. The plane was piloted by 46 year-old Keith Jorgenson of Gardnerville. Jorgenson was the sole occupant of the plane.

UPDATE 3:27PM: KOLO Reno Channel 8 reports the brother of the registered owner of the Piper that crashed in South Lake Tahoe Saturday night says all five people aboard died. Javier de la Mora says his brother, Francisco de la Mora, of Fresno was in the airplane when it crashed. Francisco's wife and daughter and two other people were on board as well. Go here for the full story.

UPDATE 2:56PM: The City of South Lake Tahoe issued the following news release and photos this afternoon:

A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Saturday, August 25th at 9:48 pm from Lake Tahoe Airport. The crash ignited a fire in the meadow just past the airport off of Winnemucca Avenue. The fire burned approximately one acre and took an hour and a half to extinguish.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department reports that the plane had been heard by witnesses to have apparent engine problems, and was seen to dip downward into the ground while attempting a turn.
According to Federal Aviation Administration, there were multiple victims and no survivors of the crash. The names of victims are not being released until notification of families is confirmed.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those that perished in this tragic accident. Thanks to the quick and cooperative efforts by multiple agencies; the fire caused by this crash was put out quickly,” said Mayor Claire Fortier.
Earlier in the day, the 23rd Annual Lake in the Sky Air Show was held at Lake Tahoe Airport. This plane was not affiliated with the air show in any way.
The location of the plane crash is within El Dorado County limits and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency of this investigation. FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials arrived on site today to perform an investigation and to identify the cause of the crash.

UPDATE 1:46PM: There are multiple victims to Saturday night's plane crash in South Lake Tahoe, confirmed El Dorado Sheriff's Office Lt. Pete Van Arnum. Investigators were processing the wreckage to confirm how many victims and their identities. Investigators do not believe the victims to be locals from the South Lake Tahoe area, he said. No information concerning the identity of the victims, or the plane will be released until positive confirmation has been made, he said. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are assisting with the investigation.
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10:36AM: Lake Tahoe News is reporting that it has exclusively learned from federal authorities that up to five people died in the plane crash on Saturday. Go here for the story. Meanwhile KOLO TV Channel 8 in Reno reports that an FAA official confirmed the plane was a Piper PA32.

UPDATE 6:55AM: A small airplane crashed in the Barton Meadows area in South Lake Tahoe sparking a wildland fire on Saturday night. Presumably there are no survivors. The crash was reported at 9:48 p.m. after the plane took off from Lake Tahoe Airport, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Pete Van Arnum early Sunday morning. Witnesses reported the plane was experiencing engine trouble and was seen moving downward before it crashed into flames, he said.

CARSON CITY – Two top state law enforcement positions have been filled by the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Troy Abney was named as chief of the Nevada Highway Patrol after a national search. Abney has 28 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as the assistant chief of the California Highway Patrol where he led 786 sworn and non-sworn members.