Steve Mensch, the president and general manager of studio operations at Tyler Perry Studios, has tragically passed away in a plane crash at the age of 62.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers found Mensch’s body at the crash site, where a single-seat plane had gone down near the intersection of Highway 19 and Longfellow Street in Homosassa, Florida.
Mensch was piloting the plane when it crashed on the evening of Friday, December 6, as confirmed by a source close to the studio.
Tyler Perry Studios released a statement on Saturday, expressing deep sorrow at his passing. “We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend Steve Mensch,” the statement read. “Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than eight years and well-beloved in the Atlanta community. It’s hard to imagine not seeing him smile throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our hearts go out to his family, and we are sending them our prayers.”
The crash occurred in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa, and photos from the scene show the plane upside down on the road.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.
FAA records show the single-engine Vans RV-12IS was registered to Mensch at his home in Fayetteville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.
Tyler Perry shared his grief on Instagram, writing: “I’ve been trying to understand this tragedy all day—what went wrong with that plane. 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.”
