Career
A former United States Marine Corps Scout/Sniper, he held a Bachelor of Surgery degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace engineering as well as an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. Initially flying solo performances, he gained a reputation with his highly energetic aerobatic displays. In 2003, LeRoy joined a daring and successful airshow troupe, the X-team, who referred to themselves as the Masters of Disaster.
Their performance generally consisted of three pilots flying a simultaneous, chaotic, interweaving aerobatic display through clouds of smoke generated by circling jet-powered trucks below.
After two seasons of successful airshows, an accident occurred on July 10, 2005 during a routine performance when Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin collided in mid-air. Jim LeRoy was not involved in the collision and landed safely.
He was also one of only a handful of full-time air show pilots in the world who actually made his living by performing for air show audiences. LeRoy also held the following pilot ratings: single-engine, multi-engine, airplane instructor, helicopter, helicopter instructor, instrument instructor and aerobatic competency evaluator.
Initial indications showed that he was performing a 1/2 Cuban 8 and snap rolls on the 45-degree down line, but recovered too low to the ground to pull out.
He hit the runway at 200 mph (322 km/hr), although his vertical speed was only around 75 mph (121 km/hr). The plane slid 300 yards (274 meters) and burst into flames. LeRoy was pronounced dead in a military MEDEVAC helicopter while in transit to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.
The coroner"s report states that LeRoy died on impact due to a fracture of his neck, but that he also was badly burned.
The National Transportation Safety Board ruled that the probable cause of the crash was the pilot"s failure to maintain clearance from terrain.
