The wreckage of a glider that crashed on Wednesday, killing a
Canterbury farmer, is to be removed from the crash site
today.
Horotata farmer and keen recreational gliding pilot Michael
John McKellow, 60, known as Joe, was flying his fixed-wing
glider when it crashed into a slope on Snowy Top Mountain on
Ribbonwood Station, near Omarama in the Mackenzie Basin.
Police said the glider had appeared to lose height rapidly
before crashing into the slope.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) safety investigators Colin
Grounsell and Matt Harris were flown into the crash site this
morning and had now released the glider's wreckage to its
owners. It was to be removed from the site this afternoon.
The CAA team would conduct interviews in Omarama today to
conduct interviews, and will return to Wellington tomorrow.
A preliminary report would be completed within four weeks.
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