Glider spiralled out of control before crash: witness

Ryan Hodgkinson was taking part in an Air Training Corps camp when the glider he was in crashed. Photo / Supplied

A glider spiralled out of control before crashing and seriously injuring its 14-year-old trainee pilot, according to a witness.

Gliding New Zealand's Brian Chesterman said the two-man glider pitched upwards and entered a spin before spiralling towards the ground.

It was unlike anything he'd ever seen, he told The Press newspaper.

"I've been in gliding for over 40 years and I can't recall another accident from that exercise."

Ryan Hodgkinson, of Christchurch, had been flying with 77-year-old instructor Thomas Orr when the glider crashed just short of the runway at Matamata Aerodome in Waharoa about 5pm on Thursday.

Mr Chesterman said Mr Orr, who was very experienced, would have been piloting the craft.

Today a Waikato Hospital spokesman said Ryan was still in a critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit.

Mr Orr, from Taupo, suffered suffered two broken ankles, and was recovering in a ward.

His wife Joan Williamson-Orr said today that his recovery would take time and their thoughts and prayers were with the Hodgkinson family and Ryan.

Ryan had been taking part in an Air Training Corps (ATC) camp which employed civilian instructors from local clubs.

His father, Ian Hodgkinson, said last night he and his wife Wendy were playing a game of "wait and see" at their son's bedside.

"Ryan is not that good at the moment although we've had a few glimmers of hope today," he told The Press.

"He's in an induced coma. They let his medication drop so he came out of the coma a wee bit and, one, he tried to rip the face mask off, and two, he pulled one of his legs up.

"So it means he probably doesn't have brain damage because he's aware enough to know he has something on his mouth and any movement is good news at this point."

Mr Hodgkinson said they were afraid that Ryan might have damaged his spinal.

- NZPA