Lakeville Pilot Dies in Kansas City Air Show

The pilot of a stunt plane that crashed Saturday during a routine at the Kansas City Aviation Expo Air Show has been identified as Bryan D. Jensen, 50, of Lakeville. Jensen was killed when his biplane failed to pull out of a dive and hit the grass near the runway at Wheeler Downtown Airport in a fiery crash with thousands of stunned air show attendees looking on.

According to Jensen’s website, www.beastairshows.com, he was a pilot for Delta Air Lines having logged over 23,000 hours of flight time. Jensen captained a 747 for Delta.

Jensen’s website also mentions that he had been flying aerobatics for 15 years and currently flew a highly-modified Pitts Model 12 biplane known as “The Beast.”

According to reports, Jensen was performing multiple aerobatic maneuvers before entering a downward spiral. The plane failed to pull up in time and crashed nose first in ball of flame which quickly engulfed the wreckage at about 1:45 p.m.

Officials suspended the remainder of the air show on Saturday but resumed performances on Sunday after a tribute to Jensen that included planes flying in missing man formation.

Jensen grew up in Iowa and a funeral is being planned there. He also maintained a home in Florida.

A scholarship is being set up in his name through the Mid-American Youth Aviation Association.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.