KEY POINTS:
The pilot who died when his glider crashed near Matamata yesterday was Waikato University scientist Trevor Alan Atkins, 51.
Dr Atkins' crashed glider was found by a farmer about 2km from the Waharoa Airfield. He had been competing in a national gliding championships.
His name was released today after his wife, a Niwa scientist, was told of his death. She was on the government research ship Tangaroa in the Antarctic.
Tangaroa left New Zealand a fortnight ago on an eight-week voyage to explore marine life in Antarctica's Ross Sea.
Sergeant Graham McGurk, from the Matamata police, said Dr Atkins was coming in to land at Waharoa when he decided to do another circuit.
Mr McGurk said it appeared Dr Atkins was in communication and coming in to land when for unknown reasons he changed his mind.
"He has been lost sight of visually and by radio communication."
He said Dr Atkins crashed and hit a substantial fence and probably died on impact.
The crash was being investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Dr Atkins, who lived in Cambridge, was a Canadian professor employed by the university.
He was a very experienced pilot with more than 1000 hours of flying behind him, Mr McGurk said.
- NZPA
