A flight student from the Sierra Academy of Aeronautics at Castle Air Force Base was killed on Nov. 15 when he was struck on the head by a propeller.

The name of the 26-year-old Chinese national who was killed has not been released. Authorities are in the process of notifying his next of kin and the Chinese Consulate.

Merced County Sheriff's Department spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie said the victim and a friend - a fellow student - had made a trip down to Visalia and returned to the air base just after 6 p.m. on Nov. 15 when the accident occurred.

The students were certified to fly either solo or with an instructor, but were not supposed to be flying together, MacKenzie said.

At Visalia the 26-year-old switched from the pilot's seat to the co-pilot's spot and flew the two-seated Cessna 150 back from that position.

Upon landing at Castle they saw a fuel truck a few yards away and realized if the driver of the truck saw them they would be reported to the school for a violation and face possible expulsion.

The friend, who was sitting in the pilot's seat, got out of the plane and took off running on foot in an effort to avoid being spotted by the driver.

Investigators believe that as the 26-year-old came around the front of the plane to change seats, he misjudged the distance between himself and the propeller and was struck across the head.

MacKenzie said the other student heard the accident as he was running away and turned around to see his friend on the ground with a massive head wound. He ran to the fuel truck driver and asked him to call 911, MacKenzie said.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Sierra Academy of Aeronautics said this was the first death of this kind the company had experienced in their 44 years of business.

An investigation is being conducted by both the Merced County Sheriff's Department and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).