El Dorado County Sheriff’ - Press Release - Airplane Crash

Update:
Airplane crash just south of the City of South Lake Tahoe
Airport.

August 5, 2007
On August 5, 2007, at about 9:45 a.m., El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office personnel
responded to a report of an airplane crash just south of the City of South Lake Tahoe
Airport.
Responding law enforcement and Fire/Rescue units located the site just south
of Elks Club Drive near Waverley Drive. This area is a moderately developed residential
sub-division and the impact was into an undeveloped forested lot.
The wreckage was of a single engine Piper aircraft. Two persons were found at the site.
One was pronounced dead at the scene, the other was evacuated by helicopter to a
trauma unit in Reno, NV. No other persons are believed to have occupied the airplane
at the time of the crash. The survivor’s condition is unknown at the time of this release.
The identity of the decedent will not be released until next of kin has been notified.
The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified and will, in conjunction with
the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Unit, conduct an investigation into the cause of
the incident. At this time, it is unclear if mechanical problems or this morning’s
significant high winds contributed to the event.

Update: August 6, 2007

• The individuals involved in the airplane crash have been identified as
  pilot (deceased) Robert Neil Rollins, 36 years of age, out of Concord,
  CA.
• The survivor, Rachel Ann Belo, 26 years of age, out of
  Brentwood, CA was airlifted to Renown Hospital at Reno, NV in
  critical condition.

An autopsy is scheduled for today for decedent Rollins and the
investigation into the cause of the crash continues.
Respectfully,
_______________________
Lt. Les Lovell, L84
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office
Lake Tahoe Station
(530) 573-3026