Glider pilot crashes during competition

A glider pilot has died in a crash approximately 2 kilometres south of Waharoa Airfield near Matamata. 

He was discovered by a local farmer as members of the gliding community started to search for him after losing sight and radio contact with the pilot at about 6pm last night. 

Sergeant Graham McGurk of the Matamata Police said the pilot was involved in a gliding competition being run at the Waharoa Airfield. 

The cause of the crash is not known. 

Air Crash Investigators will be on the scene this morning in an effort to establish the circumstances. 

His name has not been released until next of kin have been notified. 

The pilot was very experienced with over 1000 hours of flying experience.