Glider club members grieve loss of 'model' pilot in crash

Members of the Auckland Gliding Club are trying to come to terms with the death of their close friend and "model" member Ross Anabell, who died in a flying accident on Wednesday.

Mr Anabell was killed when the glider he was flying crashed into a hill near Bombay, just south of Auckland, on Wednesday about 4pm. He was 61.

President Vincent Vingerhoeds said members of the club in Drury were in shock.

"[Mr Anabell] was an enthusiastic club member, a model club member whom everybody liked," he said. "He was just a really good guy who was very passionate about his flying, and we will miss him."

Mr Vingerhoeds said Mr Anabell had been a member at the club for a few years, having come from the Piako Gliding Club.

He was unable to say what happened as the accident was being investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority.

It is understood Mr Anabell was about to celebrate his 35th wedding anniversary.

A colleague of Mr Anabell's, who did not want to be named, said he was a very cautious pilot who "quadruple checked" things before flying.

Mr Anabell became interested in flying as a teenager but had a long break from his hobby until he got back into it in his 40s.

Witnesses saw the glider lose height before it crashed into a hill. They raced to the wreckage within a minute or two of the crash and found Mr Anabell in the cockpit.

Police said the aircraft might have hit power lines before it struck a fence and slid down a gully. Mr Anabell had hit his head, but the cockpit of his machine was intact. He could not be revived.

Senior Sergeant Rob Arnold from Pukekohe police said Mr Anabell had been flying since 1972.

"He was with another glider that was some distance away who didn't see the crash but saw he was losing altitude. It looks like he struck a power line, then hit the side of the hill."

Mr Anabell had died either on impact or soon after. One wing of the glider was folded but the main body of the aircraft was reasonably intact.