Most unfortunate indeed, my belated condolences to all who knew him.
For 'powered sports' like Motorcycling, Cars, GP/F1, Indy, Rally, Powerboats, etc, I think Air Racing is proportionally one of the safer one over its years of service, I think both (Auto) Grand Prix F1 and GP's (50,125,250,350,500 750)/MotoGP have been ones with the most sportsman/sportsmonen succumbing to their respective sporting loves; and those latter two are ignoring Boardtrack Racing....
Granted it isn't dying 'in bed with your boots on' (or Giggidy Giggidy so to speak), but doing something you (or they) love(d), live for and strive to be the best at, is it any less worthy or ignoble. It is not. All hail the fallen of sport in sport, we all salute you.