On Monday, October 27th, pilot Steven Moore’s single-engine plane crashed and burst into flames after taking off from Boulder Municipal Airport. According to an official statement, Moore unfortunately died in the crash.

via thedailycamera.com

Steven Moore, who was an experienced pilot, was a role model for many people. He helped hundreds of young pilots make their way through in the aviation industry as the executive director of the National Gay Pilots Association and also served as a pilot for ExpressJet Airlines. The NGPA is an organization that supports diversity in aviation and fosters equal treatment of GLBT aviators through advocacy and outreach. NGPA’s official statement says, ” Steven, we love you, we will  miss you, and we will be forever indebted to you for all the passion you put into your work with the NGPA. ”

via lgbtqnation.com

Jeff Slater, who was working on gas lines nearby the runway, spoke with The Daily Camera about the plane before it crashed. “It was choking and sputtering pretty bad.” he said. “It sounded horrible.”

The crash is currently being investigated by the sheriff’s office and the National Transportation Safety Board. It was truly a tragic event, and Moore will be fondly remembered by many.