HOMOSASSA, Fla. — The president of Tyler Perry Studios died Friday night when the small plane he was piloting crashed on a road in Citrus County on Friday night, authorities and the Associated Press said.
At around 8 p.m., a single-engine Vans RV12 crashed next to U.S. Highway 19 near South Suncoast Boulevard in Homosassa, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told ABC Action News.
The plane was registered to 62-year-old Steve Mensch at his home address in the Atlanta suburb of Fayetteville, according to FAA records.
The FAA said the pilot was the only person onboard when the crash occurred.
According to the Associated Press, Tyler Perry Studios confirmed on Saturday that Mensch was the person killed in the crash.
“We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend Steve Mensch," the studio said in a statement retrieved by the Associated Press. "Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than eight years and well-beloved in the community of Atlanta. It’s hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as we all send them our prayers.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it began conducting its on-scene investigation on Saturday. It will look into three primary areas — the pilot, aircraft, and operating environment — before completing its full report on the incident. The plane will eventually be recovered and taken to another facility for further evaluation, the NTSB told ABC Action News.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or can provide any information regarding the incident is asked to contact the NTSB.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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