As Many As 50 People Watch Fatal NZ Ultralight Crash

Twice a year, Bernard and Sharon Mason open up their property in New Zealand for air force and naval training. Sunday, about 50 people at the Mason's property (below) watched as an off-duty Royal New Zealand Air Force soldier was killed in an ultralight crash.

"This afternoon a man, who I believe was an off-duty RNZAF staff member, crashed a microlight plane next to the Tummil River," Mason said. "It happened very close to the camp and could have been witnessed by up to 50 people."

Swedish tourist Bjorn Wahlberg was staying with the Masons and had been hunting on the property at the time of the crash. "I did not see the crash but I saw the plane flying, circling very low over the camp. I remember thinking it was flying very low and I heard the engine cut out." Immediately after that, Wahlberg said, he heard a "very loud crash. I was about 1km away but it was very loud and I knew what happened. Then I heard lots of shouting from the camp. It was very close to the people."

The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority has been called to the Avonlea estate, about 12 miles outside Blenheim. Until the investigation is complete, local police are guarding the wreckage. A spokesman for the RNZAF said he'd been told not to comment on the accident.

FMI: www.caa.govt.nz