Dave Bigelow, a former Vietnam War fighter pilot who lived on the Big Island, died Friday in a glider crash while trying to set a state altitude record.

Rescuers spotted wreckage of Bigelow's DG-400 single-seat glider on Saturday, but strong winds had kept rescuers from reaching the site inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

At about 7:30 a.m. yesterday, park rangers landed a helicopter in a barren aa lava field about 9,800 feet up the southwest side of Mauna Loa. They clambered over loose, sharp lava rocks to reach the wreckage of the glider, which had a 56-foot wingspan, strewn across the field.

Bigelow's body was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where an autopsy is pending. Afterward, 50 mph wind gusts forced rescuers to shut down air operations.

Rescuers will return to the crash site today to search for additional wreckage. Park rangers will conduct an investigation of the crash with the National Transportation Safety Board, a park news release said.

When Bigelow took off from Kamuela, skies in Volcano were clear.

“;Friday was a beautiful day,”; said Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Chief Park Ranger Talmadge Magno. “;We probably had south-southwest winds. It was a nice day for Volcano.”;

Bigelow, who set a record for the highest glider flight in Hawaii last April at 33,500 feet, was

trying to reach 40,000 feet.

Friends said Bigelow had been planning the high-altitude flight for more than a year. His wife, Patricia Bigelow, said it was more about the challenge than setting a new record.

“;He had all kinds of charts and graphs on his computer,”; she said. She recalled that day he said, “;'Everything is lining up today.' He was really excited.”;

Wishing him good luck, she kissed him goodbye at about 7:30 a.m. He called her twice, the last time at 11:30 a.m. to tell her he was flying at 18,000 feet over Hualalai volcano and heading to Mauna Kea.

She knew he would be on oxygen after that, and did not expect any more calls. Friends reported Bigelow missing at about 6:20 p.m.

Saturday afternoon, Coast Guard personnel, Big Island firefighters and volunteers helped search for Bigelow. His wreckage was spotted shortly after 1 p.m.

Bigelow, a retired commercial airline pilot who also flew hang gliders and built ultralight planes, had enjoyed outdoor activities.

Besides his wife, he is survived by parents Herbert Lyman and Reath, sister Sharon Draper and brothers Thomas and Richard - all of whom live on the mainland; sons David and Dan; and four grandchildren.

Patricia Bigelow said, “;If this could be pulled off, he would be the one that could do it.”;