News agencies report 5 dead in fiery South Lake Tahoe airplane crash; aircraft registered to Fresno man (VIDEO)

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.
***
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.
There is debris scattered in the meadow that is believed to be part of the crash, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Applegate. The area has been roped off to the public. Authorities are awaiting a team of investigators from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The fire from the crash burned about one acre. Van Arnum did not know how many were on board, or what kind of aircraft crashed. He said no flight plan was filed. It is also unknown if the plane was part of the 23rd Annual Lake in the Sky Airshow that was held earlier Saturday at the Lake Tahoe Airport.
Authorities at the scene reported that the numbers on the wing or tail of the aircraft were not identifiable. Witnesses reported a large ball of fire when the plane crashed. Video below was recorded by Michael Frates of South Lake Tahoe who arrived at the scene within a minute or so of the crash.
Frates, who lives on Oregon Avenue about one-half mile from the crash site, said that he was outside at the time and heard an airplane take off and then heard sounds that were like "a lawnmower that got something caught in the blade. There were two quick cracking noises and then it was over."
South Lake Tahoe resident Susie Meyers reports via Facebook of a "huge ball of flames in the meadow by Barton Hospital." When she arrived "we found a plane that had crashed into the meadow. No word on survivors."
Fire crews report one fire with a few trees having burned because of the wreckage. The fire was said to be contained as of about 11:10 p.m.

***
10:02PM: Firefighters in South Lake Tahoe have responded to a wildland fire in the Barton Meadows area. The fire, reported at about 9:50 p.m. on Saturday, is located off of Winnemucca Avenue. The initial call into South Lake Tahoe dispatch reported that possibly a plane went down in the meadow. Dispatch could neither confirm nor deny this information.
According to dispatch the flames are visible and all fire stations from South Lake Tahoe and Lake Valley Fire Protection District are responding. Douglas County fire and all off duty personnel have been ordered to the fire. CalFire has also been alerted. El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol are also at the scene.
A Calstar air ambulance has flown over the scene and, unofficially reports one fire is burning.
No evacuations have been ordered as of 10:30 p.m.
Firefighters are looking for fire hydrants in the surrounding area.