Inspectors from the Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport visited Kilkenny yesterday to investigate why a glider overshot the runway and crash-landed in a field near the city's airstrip at Holdensrath on Monday afternoon.
Martin Mulhall, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was pronounced dead at the scene by the emergency services.
Mr Mulhall (78) was a prominent retired businessman in Kilkenny and a well-known figure in Irish aviation circles.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, and sons Joe and Eoin. His funeral will take place tomorrow in Kilkenny.
Kilkenny deputy mayor Seán Ó hArgáin said Mr Mulhall, who "had spent his life campaigning for and contributing to the advancement of Kilkenny" was "a huge loss" to the city.
Mr Mulhall established both the local airport and a flying club. He was also a well-known aerial photographer. A co-founder of Kilkenny Airport, Pat Nolan, described him as "a very experienced pilot" who had been flying a Swiss-built Platus glider plane on Monday. He said Mr Mulhall had been a pilot for six decades.
Mr Mulhall's interest in flying began when, as a student in the 1940s, he worked in the US for a company manufacturing crop-dusting aircraft that he delivered to customers across America.
After the second World War, Mr Mulhall bought three "war- surplus" Tiger Moths from the Royal Air Force "for a fiver each" and brought them back to Kilkenny where he founded a flying club.
Today, Kilkenny Flying Club has 90 members, a fleet of four four-seater French Rallye Club planes and two gliders.
It is believed that Mr Mulhall trained over 300 pilots.
Mr Nolan said that as a mark of respect Kilkenny Airport would remain closed for a week.
Mr Mulhall was also a former managing director of the Kilkenny Greyhound Racing Company and invented the system for recording photo-finishes in greyhound races, which he installed at tracks around Ireland.
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