August 30, 2025 – Merced County Sheriff's Office officials report that on the evening of August 26, 2025, Deputies responded to a plane crash in the area of Canyon Road and I-5 in Los Banos. Deputies located the pilot and sole occupant, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Merced County Coroner’s Office has positively identified the pilot as Mahesh Chigurupati (31) from Santa Clara. This incident remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Related: Merced County Sheriff Reports Pilot Killed in Small Private Plane Crash South of Los Banos

Anyone with information about this incident may call the Sheriff’s office at (209) 385-7445, the NTSB at (844) 373-9922, or the FAA at (866) TELL-FAA.

Source: Merced County Sheriff's Office