Teen pilot critical after glider crash

A teenage trainee pilot is in a critical condition after landing short of the runway while taking part in an Air Training Corps camp in Waikato this evening.

The 16-year-old was flying with an instructor when they crashed at Matamata Aerodrome in Waharoa, shortly after 5pm.

He suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Waikato Hospital .

The instructor suffered moderate injuries to his back and was also taken to hospital for treatment.

Airforce media adviser Squadron Leader Kavae Tamariki said the camp was to give cadets experience with gliders. It was attended by cadets from throughout New Zealand.

Matamata police Sergeant Graham McGurk said there were a number of witnesses, but they were about one kilometre away from the southern end of the airfield where the glider went down.

Police said the scene had been cordoned off and the investigation handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority.

- NZPA