An entertaining character

Wills last saw his friend at an airfield meeting at 10am on Monday where the weather was discussed.

He said that Nilsson was cheerful before the flight.

Omarama Gliding Club chief flying instructor Gavin Wrigley said Nilsson was a quiet man with a ‘‘huge presence’’.

‘‘He was my best friend here. We were very close.’’

Wrigley described Nilsson as an interesting and entertaining character who would be missed by the Omarama community.

‘‘I’ve never known him to say anything negative about anyone.’’

Wrigley watched Nilsson take off on Monday but did not know what had happened until police arrived at the airfield to find out who was piloting the microlight.

Having viewed the wreckage, Wrigley said he had no idea what happened to cause the crash.

A Civil Aviation Authority inspector was expected to arrive at the crash site yesterday afternoon. ‘‘CAA has already been contacted by a witness to the crash,’’ a spokesperson said.