The flying community in Northland say a rescue helicopter pilot who was one of the victims of a plane crash will be missed.
Northland Rescue Helicopter Trust operations manager Dean Voelkerling and a passenger were killed after their Van's RV 7 microlight crashed into a paddock in the Te Kopuru in the Kaipara District yesterday.
A colleague of the pilot said was seen leaving with another person in his plane around 12pm.
He said Mr Voelkerling was a "good guy" and he "will leave a hole in the community".
Two Wellington-based Civil Aviation Authority safety investigators are arriving at the crash site today to speak with the police and first responders.
They will examine the wreckage to piece together what caused the crash.
