Air Force pilot's death hits home for Dargaville couple

Being told of a fatal air force plane crash was momentarily heart-stopping for Northland businessman Peter Williams and his wife Bev - but they quickly realised their pilot son Michael was not involved.
The Dargaville couple got a text message from their daughter Claire soon after an aircraft from the RNZAF Red Checkers aerobatics display team crashed and its pilot was killed about 8am yesterday. The name of the pilot had not been made public at that stage, but Mr Williams said he and Bev knew it was not their 31-year-old son Michael because he was in Melbourne.
The dead pilot, identified later yesterday, was Squadron Leader Nick Cree, Michael Willams' colleague.
Mr Williams said that Michael - whose membership of the Red Checkers was confirmed when his name was painted on one of the team's CT-4E Airtrainer aircraft just before Christmas - would be "absolutely devastated" to learn of Mr Cree's death.
"He's lost several mates in flying, not just in the air force, but in private planes as well."
Michael Williams was scheduled to return to New Zealand on Tuesday, but his father said funeral arrangements could bring him back earlier. Michael was an air force Orion captain until his posting about six months ago to the Central Flying School at the RNZAF base at Ohakea, in the Manawatu, where air force flying instructors are trained.
Membership of the Red Checkers is voluntary and practice flights are carried out in the pilots' spare time.
Up to six planes can participate in aerobatics displays but only one was involved in the practice manoeuvre  that led to the fatal crash.
Squadron Leader Cree, 32, leaves a wife and son.
An investigation has been started into the cause of the crash, which took place near the Raumai weapons range, west of Bulls.
The Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott, said yesterday that Squadron Leader Cree had loved flying and had an excellent flying record.
He had joined the RNZAF in 1996, served in the Solomon Islands and East Timor, and also served on exchange with the Singapore Air Force.
"Obviously our thoughts are with his wife and son, and other members of his family who now face the loss of a loved one," Air Vice-Marshal Lintott said.
"Our people have been with the family since this morning and we will continue to support them in any way we can."
Prime Minister John Key yesterday expressed his sympathy for Squadron Leader Cree's family, friends and colleagues.
"The RNZAF safety record is excellent - but there are always dangers when flying and, regrettably, they can claim the lives of even the very best of our pilots."
Mr Key said the fatality served to remind New Zealanders that defence force members, both in New Zealand and overseas, regularly put their lives at risk.