Steve Mensch, the president and general manager of studio operations at Tyler Perry Studios, has died in a plane crash in Florida.
Tyler Perry Studios confirmed Mensch’s death in a statement on Saturday, Dec. 7.
“We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Steve Mensch. Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than 8 years, and well beloved in the community of Atlanta,” the statement read. “It is 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.”
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The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office told CNN Mensch was killed when a single-engine Vans RV12 crashed around after 8 p.m. on Friday in Citrus County, Florida.
Mensch, 62, of Fayetteville, Georgia, was piloting the aircraft and was the only person on board.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the sheriff’s office said the plane went down near the intersection of HWY 19 and Longfellow St. in Homosassa, Florida.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
Tyler Perry shared a tribute to Mensch on Instagram Saturday.
“Steve loved flying, and he loved that plane; he took so much pride in it. Steve Mensch was truly a kind soul and a great leader at the studio. We all adored him and are devastated that he’s gone. I’m praying for his family as we all try to make sense of this heartbreak,” Perry wrote.
The mogul added, “Life is but a moment; we are like vapors. Hold strong to the people you love and tell them!”
According to his LinkedIn page, Mensch was a longtime Georgia resident and previously ran studio operations for Turner Broadcasting.
He is survived by his wife, Danila, and three children.
