A 50-year-old man has died in a hang glider crash in Western Australia's Wheatbelt.

The glider crashed into a paddock near the intersection of Logan and Warralakin roads, about 50 kilometres north-east of Merredin, late on Saturday afternoon.

Police said the man was practising for the WA Hang Gliding Championships, which were due to begin today.

Hang Gliding Association of WA secretary Richard Breyley said the competition had now been cancelled.

Mr Breyley said the man was an experienced hang glider.

"He was a well-respected and loved colleague of ours," he said.

"We'd been flying with him for a few years now. He was a friend of ours.

"We do it for the love of the sport, not winning or losing."

Merredin Police will work with the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia to carry out the investigation into the cause of the crash.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.