Man killed in Kaikohe glider crash from family of aviators

The glider was found crashed about 3.2km west of Kaikohe Airport. Photo / Google

An experienced glider in his 70s who died in a crash yesterday evening was a well-liked member of the local flying community.

The man was reported overdue from Kaikohe Airfield at 5.30pm on Thursday. The NZ Rescue Coordination Centre began efforts to search for the missing aircraft.

The glider was found about 3.2km west of the airport around 7pm, where it had crashed. The sole occupant had died.

Kaikohe Gliding Club president Keith Falla says the pilot, who was a member of the club, had arrived at the airfield and self-launched when they were in the air.

They landed and began packing up their gear when they noticed he wasn't back. Falla estimated it was around two hours since he'd taken to the air.

"We expected he would have a fairly short local flight - he wasn't going long distance or anything."

When Falla and his companion couldn't get a response from the glider's radio they realised something must have gone wrong.

The pair contacted the CAA , which launched a search and rescue operation with police.

Although the conditions weren't great, Falla said they also weren't bad enough to explain a crash.

"I can't think of a good reason why this might have happened. He was a very conservative flier, he would fly to the conditions and wouldn't go too far from the airfield."

The man came from a family of keen aviators, Falla said.

"His father was a pilot before him. He had been flying since he was a teenager - and he was in his 70s now."

The glider was a fairly private man - he had a wife and children, Falla said, though he wasn't sure how many.

Falla described him as a social member of the club who would join the others for a beer after they had been out flying.

"He will be missed."