Injured Tauranga glider pilot dies

Emergency services at the scene of a glider crash at Tauranga Airport. Photo/George Novak

A man seriously hurt in a glider crash at Tauranga Airport two days ago has died.

Katikati man Gavin Harvey, 40, died yesterday in Waikato Hospital.

Mr Harvey was the only occupant of the glider at the time of the crash on Sunday.

"Our thoughts are with Mr Harvey's family, friends, colleagues and the gliding community following this tragic accident," said Senior Sergeant Andrew Mortimore of Waikato police.

The matter has been referred to the Coroner.

Tauranga Airport's Ray Dumble confirmed to the Bay of Plenty Times that he had been told the pilot had died.

Mr Dumble said Civil Avaition Authority staff were at Tauranga Airport all day yesterday undertaking an initial investigation of the crash scene and incident.

The investigators would be returning to Tauranga later this week or early next week to do a more fuller analysis of the crash scene, he said

The glider sustained considerable damage due to the force of the impact.

The left wing of the glider was broken and the other wing looked intact.