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Mike Mangold Dies in L-39 Crash

Mike Mangold Daniel Grund/Red Bull Content Pool
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Former aerobatic champion and Red Bull Air Race winner Mike Mangold died when his Aero L-39 jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Apple Valley Airport in California.
  • The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause of the crash, which reportedly involved Mangold and one other person on board.
  • Mangold was a highly accomplished pilot, with a distinguished career that included serving in the U.S. Air Force, flying commercially, and achieving significant success in airshow and competition aerobatics, including two Red Bull Air Race World Championships.
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Former aerobatic champion and Red Bull Air Race winner Mike Mangold died over the weekend when his single-engine Aero L-39 crashed shortly after takeoff from the Apple Valley Airport (APV) in California. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause of the crash.

Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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