The parapenting pilot who died in Queenstown this morning lost control in mid-air and hit a prefabricated school building, authorities say.
Police, who were called to Queenstown Primary School at 10.10am, are yet to name the dead man.
Civil Aviation Authority safety investigators are expected to arrive in Queenstown tomorrow.
Authority spokesman Mike Richards said initial reports indicated the parapente's canopy collapsed and the pilot became tangled in cords.
"He lost control and fell through trees and impacted the roof on a prefabricated school building."
Two safety investigators were expected to conduct interviews in Queenstown tomorrow.
"CAA will gather witness and review reports taken from police, including photographs taken at the scene," Mr Richards said.
Soon after the crash, a witness from Holland, who did not want to be named, told the Otago Daily Times:
"It was a five-second fall, I guess."
"It was really high.
"We saw them making a loop, sort of, and then they fell in his paraglider."
"They dropped, with their back to the ground," her friend said.
"It's so terrible."
GForce Paragliding director Gavin Taylor confirmed it was not a commercial flight - it was a recreational flight.
"We're still trying to figure out what's going on at this stage."
A police media spokeswoman said no further information was expected to be released today as next of kin are still being informed.
