A Longmont-based pilot died Wednesday when his antique plane crashed near Palmer Lake in El Paso County.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Daniel Murray was listed as the owner of the same model aircraft, a vintage 1928 model. The identity and condition of the other passenger is unknown.
Howard Morgan, president of the Hangar Owners Association at Vance Brand Municipal Airport, confirmed Friday that Murray died when his vintage 1928 Curtiss Wright Travel Air 4000 crashed on its way to an antique fly-in.
Morgan said Murray had recently turned 76 and was well-known in Longmont and at Vance Brand.
Murray used to fly planes or appear as an extra in movies, including “Amelia Earhart: The Untold Story” (1993) and “Amelia Earhart — The Final Flight” (1994).
Brigette Rodriguez, who began volunteering at the airport in 2002, said Murray has long been the face of the Longmont airport. “He and his plane meant so much to the tightknit Longmont airport community, and the airport really won’t be the same without him.”