Crime & Safety
Famed Burr Ridge Stunt Pilot, Passenger Killed In Kansas Plane Crash
Stunt pilot Vlado Lenoch, 64, of Burr Ridge, and his passenger, Bethany Root, 34, of Kansas died when his WWII plane crashed Sunday.
BURR RIDGE, IL — A world-renowned stunt pilot from Burr Ridge and his passenger have died after the small plane they were in crashed Sunday morning in Atchison County, Kansas. Vlado Lenoch, 64, was piloting a World War II P-51D Mustang when it crashed near Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport in rural Kansas. Lenoch and his passenger, airport manager Bethany Root, 34, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to the Kansas City Star.
The fatal plane crash took place a day after Lenoch performed in the county's annual Amelia Earhart Festival. Lenoch was a seasoned pilot who began flying when he was just 17 years old, according to the Airforce Heritage Flight Foundation. After earning a degree in aeronautical engineering and a subsequent master's degree at MIT, Lenoch began an extensive career that included building his own aircraft and stunt performing with vintage warplanes around the world.
The cause of the crash that killed Lenoch and Root is still unknown and will be under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Find out what's happening in Burr Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
With a heavy heart, I am sad to hear of the loss of airshow/warbird pilot Vlado Lenoch. I knew no one more down-to-earth. Godspeed, Vlado. pic.twitter.com/4piozGYw74
— Luke Carrico (@airshowluke) July 16, 2017
I'm incredibly saddened by the loss of such an amazing man and airshow performer. Vlado Lenoch was truly one of the best. Blue skies, Vlado.
— ✈Mike Lambert✈ (@Lambo805) July 17, 2017
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