A pilot who died in a plane crash during an air show in South Africa has been identified as an Italian national, police said on Sunday.

The 49-year-old Italian pilot, Gian Franco Cigione, was participating in an air show when his plane crash at PC Pelser Airport in Klerksdorp of the North West province on Saturday, according to North West police.

"It alleged that two pilots were flying in different planes showcasing their skill, making circular flying tricks close to the ground. The two planes were flying parallel to each other when Gian Franco Cigione lost control and crashed into the ground," said police Captain Amanda Funani.

Cigione's plane crashed next to Klerksdorp Cemetery and died at the scene.

No other people were injured in the crash whose cause remains unknown, Funani said.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority said it has launched an investigation into the accident.

The crashed plane was identified as privately-owned L-39 which was widely used for training or air travel by some countries in the world. It is an old type of the jet trainer made by the former eastern European country of Czechoslovakia in the 1960s.

Since the beginning of this year, several L-39s have crashed in the world. On May 18, a U.S.-based L-39 crashed, killing its pilot and a passenger.