One person is dead after a Cessna crashed in a field just south of Los Banos Municipal Airport in Merced County, California, on Tuesday evening.
According to the accident report, the pilot, operating a 2004 Cessna 172S Skyhawk, took off from Jose-Reid-Hillview Airport around 3:11 pm. About forty minutes later, ADS-B data shows the pilot entering an erratic flight path, continuously circling the area.
ABC30 spoke with a man who said he heard distress calls over a radio scanner, where the pilot was reporting he had lost control of his Cessna and was at half fuel. Two other aircraft tried to assist the Cessna by flying close by and trying to comfort the pilot over the radio.
The aircraft continued in a circular pattern for nearly three hours before crashing down in a field, just a short distance from the interstate.
First responders arrived within minutes of the crash, and an investigator with the NTSB was on site to collect evidence. The FAA is assisting in the investigation as well.
Wow! Interesting that power, trim and rudder was not effective enough to get it on the ground. Poor kid and his family who will have to relive this a few times.
Sounds like the first solo cross country and the pilot was not ready. Hard call for the instructor. Not knowing the new pilot was not ready to go out cross country by himself or herself. Except, Reid Hillview is a wacky place. Coming out of Reid Hillview with one’s head intact is probably a challenge. Or, a combination of misadventures. The history of the aircraft is probably in question also. Does not sound like it was working perfectly. Except a more experienced pilot would find a way around any partially disabled aircraft. Too many possibilities in this scenario. Flying in circles never works. Certainly sounds like a panic attack. The pilot was just not ready by all indications. Especially flying in circles for 2 or 3 hours? No one does that, unless panicked.
Did you even watch the video? You really should before commenting.