Police name dead tiger moth pilot

Police have released the name of one of the two victims of a light plane crash in Mid-Canterbury yesterday morning.

Pilot John Copland of Ashburton and his passenger died instantly when their deHavilland DH82A Tiger Moth spiralled into the ground, bursting into flames about 11am yesterday.

The two men were believed to have taken-off just moments before the recently restored Tiger Moth came crashing down 50 metres from a farm house north of Ashburton, just off State Highway One.

Police are yet to release the name of the dead passenger.

The two bodies were removed from the wreckage shortly before 5pm.

Police and the Civil Aviation Authority are investigating.

- NZPA