Tyler Perry Studios’ President Killed in Tragic Plane Crash

CNN —

Steve Mensch, president and general manager of studio operations at Tyler Perry Studios, tragically lost his life in a plane crash on Friday night, as confirmed by officials.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported discovering Mensch at the scene shortly after 8 p.m. in Citrus County, Florida. Although the agency did not specifically name him, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office identified him as the 62-year-old from Fayetteville, Georgia.

“FHP Troopers responded to a crash involving a single-engine fixed-wing airplane on West White Dogwood Drive near US-98,” stated the agency. “An adult male inside the aircraft was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

In an email to CNN on Saturday, Tyler Perry Studios expressed deep sorrow over Mensch’s passing, stating, “Steve was not just a cherished team member for over eight years, but also a beloved figure in the Atlanta community. His warm smile will be profoundly missed.”

The Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the pilot was the sole occupant of the single-engine Vans RV12. Meanwhile, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator is expected to arrive at the crash site as early as Saturday to begin investigating and documenting the scene.

Mensch, who managed the daily operations at the expansive 300-acre Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, highlighted in a 2019 interview the studio’s unique blend of rich history and modern technology, declaring it the “only major motion picture studio on the East Coast.”

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp paid tribute to Mensch on social media, lauding him as “a good man” whose contributions greatly enriched the state’s film industry.

CNN’s Lisa Respers France and Kia Fatahi contributed to this report.