Shock over gliding tragedy

BY MICHAEL BERRY

The New Zealand gliding community is in shock after a Blenheim pilot who promoted safety measures died while attempting a 1000-kilometre non-stop flight at the weekend.

Mike Dekker, 55, of Blenheim, was the sole occupant of a glider that crashed 7km south of Blenheim on Orchard Spur near the Taylor Pass area on Friday during a 1000km cross-country flight attempt.

The Marlborough Gliding Club member intended to fly south from Omaka Aerodrome over the Molesworth to the Lake Coleridge area and return to Omaka, passing over the Nelson Lakes area.

The ill-fated flight began at 8.30am and was supposed to take 12 hours. The time of the crash is not yet known.

When Mr Dekker had not returned by 9.30pm on Friday, his tow pilot raised the alarm.

The Nelson-based Summit Rescue Helicopter found the wreckage of the glider and Mr Dekker's body in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Civil Aviation Authority began an investigation on Saturday into the cause of the crash.

Marlborough Gliding Club president Carl Jackson said flying conditions on the day were "pretty typical".

The Woodbourne air control tower recorded 25-knot southwesterly winds and 60km visibility at 8.30am on Friday when Mr Dekker began his flight.

"We're not 100 per cent sure whether it happened early or late in the flight – we think it may have happened early on, but that will come out later," Mr Jackson said.

Mr Dekker was an experienced glider pilot and instructor with more than 2000 hours' flying time.

He was Gliding New Zealand's national operations officer and a member of its executive committee.

"He always drove the safety aspects into the club; hence why it's a bit of a shock," Mr Jackson said.

In an article Mr Dekker wrote for Soaring NZ magazine in August, he encouraged pilots to promote good safety standards and mentor and encourage their peers.

"Not long ago, I woke up and realised I was one of those `old buggers' that the gliding movement depends on to keep things going safely," he wrote.

Mr Dekker's brother Rob, a Blenheim police officer, said his brother would be remembered for his "very dry sense of humour and cheeky grin".

"He was a loving father and he is going to be missed by a lot of people; by his family and friends.

"He was dedicated to the things he loved: his family, his church and his gliding."

Heavily involved in aviation all his life, Mr Dekker spent 24 years in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and 11 years at Safe Air Blenheim as an engineering administration officer.

Safe Air general manager Heather Deacon said he was highly respected, both by his colleagues and customers, and would be sadly missed.

"He would always be on the lookout from his work window for a good gliding day and he was quick to ask for short-notice leave to go out and take advantage."

Rob Dekker said his brother was passionate about gliding for more than 30 years.

"He always had a fascination and an inclination for aircraft and flight.

"One of his children once suggested that they would have to physically remove him from the glider at [the age of] 83 to stop him from gliding."

Rob Dekker said the 1000km cross-country flight was a personal challenge that Mr Dekker had been looking forward to conquering.

Mr Jackson said it took a lot of planning and concentration to complete the long-distance flight and Mr Dekker had been preparing for a long time.

"There's not a large number of people who have achieved a 1000km glide.

"It's quite a milestone; an achievement he'd been after for a while – he'd had a few goes.

"It's a bugger he didn't get it."

He said Mr Dekker's death was "a huge loss" to the gliding club.

"He was a very active member of the club, out most weekends and known right through the national gliding fraternity.

"He was the cornerstone of the club, an important member of the team.

"Just a really good guy."

Mr Dekker was a member of St Mary's Parish and had been the chairman of the parish pastoral council for many years, before he stepped down last year.

Alan Furness, chairman of St Mary's Parish pastoral council, said Mr Dekker was a man of many talents who was always prepared to share them.

The parish liturgy to be used during the upcoming Christmas season was prepared by Mr Dekker. "The parish wishes to offer his wife and family all condolences," Mr Furness said.

Mr Dekker's widow, Julia Dekker, said flowers and cards were appreciated but it was preferred that the money be donated to the Blenheim community charity, John's Kitchen.

Mr Dekker is survived by Mrs Dekker and their adult children Rachelle, John and Damian.

His funeral will be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday at St Mary's Church.

- The Marlborough Express