MERCED COUNTY, CA – A tragic plane crash in Merced County claimed the life of a pilot Tuesday night after the aircraft took off from San Jose and went down near Interstate 5, between Santa Nella and Los Banos.
According to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived at the crash site shortly after 7:40 p.m. Sheriff Vern Warnke reported that the pilot experienced technical problems mid-flight, forcing the small aircraft to circle the area for nearly an hour before nosediving into the ground.
“At first, we believed this would be a rescue mission, but sadly it turned into a recovery,” Warnke said.
Authorities confirmed the pilot was the only person on board. A second aircraft was reportedly following the downed plane, though officials have not determined why. The pilot’s identity has not yet been released.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation into what caused the deadly plane crash in Merced County.
