Pilot killed in small plane crash in Merced County identified

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The pilot who was killed in a small plane crash in Merced County has been identified as 31-year-old Mahesh Chigurupati.

The Merced County Sheriff's Office says that Chigurupati was from Santa Clara.

Authorities say the single-engine Cessna went down late Tuesday evening just a few hundred yards from Interstate 5.

Investigators believe Chigurupati departed from Reid-Hillview County Airport in the San Jose area. As he made his way into Merced County, the flight took a terrifying turn.

A man who asked to remain anonymous told ABC30 he heard the pilot's distress calls over an aviation scanner around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Chigurupati reported that his flight controls were not working and that he could only fly in circles.

Flight tracking data shows the plane circled for nearly three hours before crashing.

The NTSB said its investigation will include reviewing flight track data, air traffic control communications and any available surveillance video. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story mistakenly said the crash happened on Wednesday evening. We regret the error.