World-famous Red Bull aerobatics pilot is killed alongside passenger in jet crash at California desert airport

  • Mike Mangold, 60, was identified as pilot of small jet that went down after taking off around 2pm at Apple Valley Airport on Sunday
  • Jet crashed and burned killing both people on board; other victim involved in crash has not been identified
  • Airport was shut for 24 hours as the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board investigate

By ASSOCIATED PRESS and DAILYMAIL.COM REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

A world-famous aerobatics champion for Red Bull has died in a jet crash at a Southern California desert airport on Sunday that killed both people on board.

Mike Mangold, 60, of Victorville, California has been identified as the pilot of the small jet that crashed and burned after taking off around 2pm at the Apple Valley Airport in San Bernardino County, the Victor Valley News reported.

The other victim in the crash has not been identified. 

Mike Mangold (pictured center in 2005), 60, of Victorville, California has been identified as the pilot of the small jet that went down after taking off around 2pm at the Apple Valley Airport in San Bernardino County on Sunday

Mike Mangold (pictured center in 2005), 60, of Victorville, California has been identified as the pilot of the small jet that went down after taking off around 2pm at the Apple Valley Airport in San Bernardino County on Sunday

Authorities said a small jet crashed and burned (scene pictured above) at the Southern California desert airport, killing both people on board

Authorities said a small jet crashed and burned (scene pictured above) at the Southern California desert airport, killing both people on board

Fire officials said the jet, identified as an L-39, went down around 2pm on Sunday in San Bernardino County, about 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles

Fire officials said the jet, identified as an L-39, went down around 2pm on Sunday in San Bernardino County, about 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles

Fire Marshal Jason Nailon said a witness reported seeing flames out of the engine as the jet, identified as an L-39, was taxiing down the runway.

The L-39 is a two-seat, high-performance jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia. 

Nobody on the ground was hurt, but the airport was shut for 24 hours as the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board investigate.

Mangold, a former Boeing 757 and 767 commercial pilot for American Airlines, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the oldest of three children.

His family moved to California and then to Pennsylvania where he attended high school, according to the Victor Valley News.

Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration says the plane had just taken off when it went down and crashed in a fireball

Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration says the plane had just taken off when it went down and crashed in a fireball

The former air race pilot had a passion for skydiving and started flying in 1977 before graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1978, according to racingjets.com.

Mangold then went on to fly F-4 Phantoms for ten years, racking up more than 2,500 hours including a high speed ejection.

Mangold leaves behind his wife Julie and two children Nick and Melissa

Mangold leaves behind his wife Julie and two children Nick and Melissa

During his military career, he was sent on missions from nuclear weapons delivery to air superiority at bases in South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Egypt and South Korea.

Between 1981 and 1985, he was a member of the US Parachute team and in 1996 he participated in the World's Largest Formation Skydive over Anapa, Russia which included 300 divers.

Mangold, who has reportedly flown every model of the F-4, was awarded in 1983 with the title as the Outstanding Graduate of the Air Force's 'Top Gun' fighter Weapons School.

In 1989, he left active military duty before starting his airline career which included USAir and American Airlines.

Mangold reportedly accumulated more than 11,000 airliner hours from flying the B-727, MD-80, BAE-146 and the B-767.

The father-of-two began flying in airshows and kicked off his competitive aerobatic career in 1990.

In 2002, he was the recipient of the L Paul Soucy Award for the highest scoring unlimited aerobatic pilot of the year.

From 2000-2004, the five-time California Unlimited Aerobatic Champion was a member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team.

Among his accomplishments, Mangold, who reportedly has more Red Bull Air Race wins than any other pilot, was the 2004, 2005 and 2007 world champion, according to racingjets.com.

He has also been awarded gold, silver and bronze at the US National Aerobatic championships.

Mangold leaves behind his wife Julie and two children Nick and Melissa. 

Among his accomplishments, Mangold (pictured in 2007), who reportedly has more Red Bull Air Race wins than any other pilot, was the 2004, 2005 and 2007 world champion

Among his accomplishments, Mangold (pictured in 2007), who reportedly has more Red Bull Air Race wins than any other pilot, was the 2004, 2005 and 2007 world champion

The former air race pilot (pictured in 2007) had a passion for skydiving and started flying in 1977 before graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1978

The former air race pilot (pictured in 2007) had a passion for skydiving and started flying in 1977 before graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1978

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