Tyler Perry Studios' president, Steve Mensch, died in a Florida aircraft crash

The president and general manager of Tyler Perry Studios, Steve Mensch, lost his life in a single-engine plane crash in Florida on Friday night.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, shortly after 8 p.m., troopers discovered Mensch deceased at the scene of a collision in Citrus County, Florida. Although the Citrus County Sheriff's Office stated that Mensch, 62, of Fayetteville, Georgia, was the deceased man, the office did not identify Mensch.

“FHP Troopers responded to a single engine fixed-wing airplane crash on West White Dogwood Drive near the intersection of US-98,” FHP said in a statement. “An adult male occupant of the aircraft was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash.”

The Federal Aviation Administration did not specifically name Mensch, but stated that the pilot was the only person on board the single-engine Vans RV12.

The passing of 62-year-old president and general manager Steve Mensch was announced by Tyler Perry Studios.

“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 studio said in a statement. “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.”

Mensch oversaw Tyler Perry Studios' daily operations.

After spending a year assisting with the design and construction of a massive studio in China, they briefly assisted with the opening of Third Rail Studios in the Atlanta suburbs. In 2016, Perry enlisted Mensch to assist in the establishment and management of his eponymous studio. The studio is located on 330 acres (135 hectares) of land Perry purchased in 2015 from a former Army post in southern Atlanta.

Mensch entered the film industry when he began working for Feature Systems, a company that supplies equipment to the motion picture industry. He became director of strategic production partnerships after being hired by Turner Broadcasting, located in Atlanta, to oversee its studio operations. He started pleading with the state administration there for additional funding for film and television production.

Mensch passed away on the same day Perry's military film "The Six Triple Eight," which tells the story of an all-female, predominantly Black World military II regiment, was published. The movie was filmed in the studio in Atlanta.

Mensch is survived by his wife, Danila, and their three children.