Man killed in Tauranga microlight crash named

Police attend the scene of the fatal microlight accident. Photo / Alan Gibson

Counselling had been offered to people who witnessed a microlight aircraft crash at Tauranga Airport this morning that killed the pilot.

The pilot was named this afternoon as 56-year-old Jeffery Arthur Bryant, of Piopio, near Te Kuiti.

Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair of Tauranga police said Mr Bryant's aircraft crashed shortly after take-off and was seen by witnesses spiralling downwards, out of control, before crashing near the eastern end of the runway.

Some witnesses were upset after seeing the accident and were being seen by Victim Support, he said.

Mt Maunganui Fire Service station officer Lindsay Nicol told NZPA he had seen the microlight doing laps of the airport earlier in the morning.

He arrived at the scene about 8.40am to find the man trapped in the wreckage.

The microlight was badly damaged and emergency services had to lift the aircraft by hand to get him out.

There was no sign of life from the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two Civil Aviation Authority investigators are at the airport trying to ascertain what happened.

The death has been referred to the coroner.

- NZPA