HAMPTON, Va. — A pilot who was preparing for an upcoming air show in an experimental plane died Thursday when the aircraft crashed at a military base in coastal Virginia, officials said.

A pilot was killed Thursday while attempting to land a civilian aircraft at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., base officials said. The crash happened at about 11:39 a.m. when the aircraft landed in preparation for the Air Power Over Hampton Roads air show scheduled for the weekend.

An experimental MX Aircraft MXS crashed Thursday while the pilot was attempting to land at the Langley Air Force Base, the Federal Aviation Administration said.