# Accident 20250826013379A: Cessna 172S, Los Banos, CA, August 26, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 2025, 19:05 local time
- Place: Los Banos, CA
- Airport: Los Banos Municipal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9893° N, 120.9010° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9893&lon=-120.9010&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5203H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5203H-2026-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25FA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA264) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250826013379A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON AUGUST 27, 2025, A CESSNA 172 (C172) AIRCRAFT ON A PART 91 FLIGHT FROM REID-HILLVIEW AIRPORT (RHV) CRASHED NEAR LOS BANOS, CA. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY DUE TO FLIGHT CONTROL ISSUES. TWO NEARBY AIRCRAFT ASSISTED BY PROVIDING TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDANCE, AND THE C172 WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW THEIR COMMANDS. NOTE - DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT SENT A TEXT MESSAGE INDICATING POSSIBLE SUICIDAL INTENT. THE C172 REMAINED AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS BEFORE CRASHING FIVE MILES SOUTH OF LOS BANOS AIRPORT (LSN), RESULTING IN THE PILOT'S FATALITY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25FA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA264), Aug 27, 2025: Cessna 172S (N5203H), Los Banos, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N5203H (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20160803019189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160803019189A), Aug 3, 2016: Cessna 172S (N5203H), Thermal, CA, Substantial damage. On August 3, 2016 at 1400 PDT, the student pilot stated that he was on a solo x-country flight from chino, CA (kcno) to Thermal, CA (ktrm). Upon arrival in trm…
- [Incident 20160124001509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160124001509I), Jan 24, 2016: Cessna 172S (N5203H), Chino, CA, No damage. Aircraft lost engine power (shutdown) on approach to Chino Airport. Engine was restarted on descent. Aircraft landed without incident.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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