Last updated 14:30, June 15 2018
JAMES BAKER/STUFF
Police observe the hang glider crash at Karioitahi Beach which left one dead.
Police observe the hang glider crash at Karioitahi Beach which left one dead.
Police are seeking witnesses to a hang gliding crash on an Auckland beach yesterday which claimed the life of its pilot.
Police, who are yet to formally identify the male pilot, are asking anyone who was at Karioitahi Beach at around 4pm on Thursday to contact Sergeant Graeme Wood at Waiuku Police on 09 236 5020.
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand is also investigating the accident.
A police helicopter was also in attendance at the crash.
"We're working with the NZ Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association on this investigation but the association are leading it," a spokesperson said.
The pilot died after the aircraft crashed on the west coast beach, near Waiuku, late Thursday afternoon.
Police on the scene said it appeared the hang glider suffered a "catastrophic failure" which caused the glider to fall to the ground and the man died on impact
"The hang glider hit the ground with a very big bang and then it was a case of running and calling the rescue services," a witness on the scene said.