Reno , Nevada ( CNN ) -- A man who once appeared discreetly as a stunt pilot in movies became the center of national attention after a crash at a Nevada air show . Jimmy Leeward is presumed dead after the Friday crash . The 74-year-old owned Leeward Ranch , a pilot community in Ocala , Florida . The 500-acre gated community features plane enthusiasts who build custom homes on lots that include hangars . The community has a runway so that people can fly from their homes . `` The vision was to have a variety of great airplanes , a variety of great pilots , '' Leeward said in a documentary about his ranch . `` And a place where everybody could really have a lot of fun . I wanted that as part of my vision to be something that was just like my father had in the 1930s . '' Leeward started building the community in the 1980s with his sons and it has grown to more than 170 homes . Some residents left condolences on Leeward 's Facebook page . His family also left a message on the page . `` Dear friends , we are deeply saddened by the tragedy at the air race today . Please join us in praying at this time for all the families affected , '' the message said . Leeward , was flying a P-51 Mustang in a Reno air race Friday , when he lost control and crashed . Some witnesses are crediting him with using his flying skills to help limit the number of people injured . ' I was ... preparing to die , ' witness at Nevada air race crash says . `` I think he was trying to do whatever he could right up to the end , '' said Fred Scholz , a witness . `` I could hear the engine ... I thought he was coming in on top of us . Instead , he missed us by about 100 feet and went out into the box area in front of us . '' Leeward , a son of a pilot , said that he was raised in airports . He worked as a stunt pilot in several films , including `` Amelia '' and `` The Tuskegee Airmen . '' He had been part of the Reno air race since 1975 , said Mike Houghton , president of the Reno Air Racing Association . `` He was very active in aviation . He did a lot of stunt flying for movies , '' he said . `` He was a close personal friend . Well liked . Great guy . Great family man . ''
Leeward , 74 , is presumed dead after the Friday crash . Comment: He once worked as a stunt pilot in movies .