Pilot killed in small plane crash near Los Banos; NTSB investigating

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Federal investigators are moving to find what caused a tiny level to clang successful a tract southbound of Los Banos, sidesplitting the pilot.

The single-engine Cessna went down Wednesday evening conscionable a fewer 100 yards from Interstate 5, according to the Merced County Sheriff's Office. The pilot, who was the lone idiosyncratic connected board, has not been publically identified.

1 idiosyncratic dormant aft level clang successful Merced County, deputies say

The National Transportation Safety Board said an researcher was connected country Thursday documenting the wreckage and collecting evidence. The Federal Aviation Administration is besides assisting successful the investigation.

Action News has learned the aviator was flying unsocial successful a tiny single-engine Cessna. Investigators judge helium departed from Reid-Hillview County Airport successful the San Jose area. But arsenic helium made his mode into Merced County, the formation took a terrifying turn.

A antheral who asked to stay anonymous told ABC30 helium heard the pilot's distress calls implicit an aviation scanner astir 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The aviator reported that his formation controls were not moving and that helium could lone alert successful circles.

"He told NorCal that his power services weren't moving and helium could lone spell successful a ellipse pattern," the witnesser said.

Flight tracking information shows the level circled for astir 3 hours earlier crashing. The witnesser said 2 different pilots tried to assistance by flying alongside the distressed craft and offering reassurance implicit the radio.

"With these 2 planes that were adjacent and capable to spot the visuals, they were capable to supply the distress aviator with a calming voice," the witnesser said. "I judge that benignant of helped him to combat a small longer."

First responders, including a sheriff's helicopter, arrived wrong minutes of the crash. Authorities described the incidental arsenic a uncommon calamity for the region.

"On occasion, we bash person level accidents here," said Capt. Aaron Rosenberg of the Merced County Sheriff's Office. "Generally, they're not this severe. In my caller memory, this is the archetypal clip I cognize of a fatal airplane mishap successful Merced County."

The NTSB said its probe volition see reviewing formation way data, aerial postulation power communications and immoderate disposable surveillance video. A preliminary study is expected wrong 30 days.

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