A Canterbury mayor has paid his respects to a local pilot killed in an air crash yesterday.

A microlight went down near the southeast end of the Pukaki spillway – east of Twizel.

Go Gyro has confirmed on social media owner Trevor Shadbolt was killed.

Mr Trevor was a highly respected pilot in the community.

Mr Shadbolt was also Mackenzie District Council’s manager at Pukaki Airport.

Mackenzie Mayor Graham Smith says he did a tremendous amount for their local airport.

He says the council wants to express its sympathy to Shadbolt’s family.