AVIATION ACCIDENT: Two people dead in Truckee plane crash identified

June 29, 2010

Truckee – Authorities have identified the two people who were killed in a plane crash last June 17 near Truckee Tahoe Airport.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office named the two as Raymond Rotge, the 66-year-old owner and pilot of the small homebuilt plane from California, and his passenger Mack Johnston, 71, from Washington.

The accident, which occurred in Martis Valley off California 267, was reported at 2:15 p.m. Aside from the two men, no one else is in the aircraft.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the manufacturer’s website shows that the plane is a single-engine Vans RV8. It is a two-seater with center-line seating and was built in order to provide more room to taller pilots.

FAA Spokesman Ian Gregor said that the plane took off from Truckee Airport and the pilot intended to return. Airport officials also said that the plane was making its final approach to the landing but did not make it.

Gregor added that the cause is still unknown, even the weather conditions at that time were clear, and no calls for help were received.