Chopper crash investigation under way after wreckage recovery

Tuesday, 24 July 2018

Police say they are thankful to the community and rescuers after retrieving the body of helicopter pilot Matthew Wallis from Lake Wanaka.

Police have described the 'very moving' retrieval of a body thought to be that of Wanaka helicopter pilot Matthew Wallis.

The body was retrieved from the Stevenson Arm area of Lake Wanaka about 10pm on Monday, two days after his helicopter crashed on a short solo flight to Mt Aspiring National Park from Wanaka Airport.

Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, said a body was located inside the wreckage of the helicopter, at a depth of 47 metres on the flat bottom of the lake by the Police National Dive Squad and the Navy.

Helicopter pilot Matthew Wallis, who crashed at Lake Wanaka on Saturday, prompting a large-scale search.

Shaw praised the 'can-do' attitude of the local community, and everyone involved in the operation. He estimated there was about 30 people on the lake on Monday night, including Wallis' family, victim support and local iwi.

Jonathan Wallis has made a promise to his missing brother, helicopter pilot Matthew Wallis: 'we will bring you home soon'. (Video published July 2018)

* Missing Wanaka pilot presumed dead as search enters recovery phase

* Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow founders Tim and George Wallis recall first show**

Divers heading out onto Lake Wanaka on Monday afternoon.

'It was very moving and it was a really, really good conclusion from the police aspect of the operation … We'd like to thank the whole community for that.'

Shaw said a 'significant amount' of wreckage from the helicopter had been recovered from the lake bed. Divers continued working at night using light from a remotely operated vehicle, he said.

The Police National Dive Squad on day 3 of the search for Matt Wallis.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is investigating the cause of the crash.

Investigator Ian McClelland said the commission was focused on collecting wreckage and conducting witness interviews.

Wallis' body was retrieved from the water in the Stevenson's Arm area of the lake, along with some of the wreckage, by police and Navy divers around 10pm on Monday.

TAIC had notified the helicopter's manufacturer, Robinson, and the National Transport Safety Board, in the United States, which had 'offered their full support'.

McClelland said the commission would consider the weather at the time of the crash as part of its inquiry, and examine the wreckage, including the state it was found compared to after it had been collected.

The Police National Dive Squad resumed the search on Monday morning.

'The helicopter has hit the water from some height so it has suffered significant damage,' he said.

'It is a tragedy and our aim is to try and give [the family] answers, and overall provide a safer aviation environment.'

WALLIS 'SORELY MISSED'

Warbirds over Wanaka Community Trust chairman John Gilks said Wallis would be 'sorely missed' by a large number of people in the aviation industry.

'Our heartfelt condolences go to Matt Wallis's wife, Alice, their young son, Arthur, and the wider Wallis family at their loss.

'The Wallis family are highly respected in the Wanaka community. Matt's father Sir Tim Wallis founded the Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow 30 years ago and all family members have been strong supporters of the event ever since.

'This has been a tragic accident and Matt will be sorely missed by a large number of people in the aviation industry and the wider Wanaka community. Our thoughts at this sad time are with the Wallis family and the team at Alpine Group.'

Wallis' body was retrieved from the water in the Stevenson's Arm area of the lake, along with some of the wreckage, by police and Navy divers around 10pm on Monday.

'This is the best possible outcome we could have hoped for in the circumstances, and we are glad to be able to bring some degree of closure to Matthew's family at this sad time', Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw said.

'Police would like to thank the Wallis family, New Zealand Defence Force, LandSAR volunteers, the Wanaka community and the aviation industry for their assistance in this recovery operation.'

Earlier, sonar searching of Lake Wanaka for Wallis' crashed helicopter had located an item 47 metres under water, but police at the time could not confirm it was the wreckage.

Remotely operated underwater vehicles had been used by the Navy to scan the lake bed using sonar equipment.

Family members had also been helping with the search, which had resumed first thing on Monday morning.

Jonathan Wallis told Radio NZ on Monday morning the area searchers believed his brother was in 'not as deep as other parts of the lake, but it still exceeds what would be normal, or routine, diving'.

He earlier said his brother was on a 'very routine' flight, on a route he had taken thousands of times before.

TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY BROKEN

Matt Wallis was the third of four close-knit brothers, born within five years of each other, to determined and widely-respected parents.

Their father, Sir Tim Wallis, is most well-known as a pioneer of the live deer recovery industry in New Zealand and the founder of the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow. Now retired, he was also a deer farmer and known for the development of high quality genetics and exports of velvet, antler and pizzle to Asia.

According to a 2005 Listener article he has also survived 15 air crashes, including hitting overhead power lines in a helicopter in 1968, breaking his back and permanently paralysing his left leg. However, it was a 1996 crash in his Spitfire Mk XIV at 320 kmh at Wanaka Airport that left him so badly injured he has been unable to fly again.

By then he had already been knighted, in 1994, for services to deer farming, export and the community and has since been honoured for his services to tourism also.

His various businesses are now looked after by his sons, including Alpine Helicopters, Southern Lakes Heliski and the exclusive Minaret Station, of which Matt Wallis was general manager of tourism, according to his Linkedin profile.

The station is a 22,257 hectare deer, sheep and cattle property with a tourism lodge, on Lake Wanaka. It is accessible only by air or water and its guests are offered exclusive access to fishing and hunting opportunities via helicopter.

While hosting a Stuff reporter in 2015 Matt Wallis said he was bugged by people who said they had 'done' New Zealand.

'The high country is the heart of the South Island, and hardly any visitors had actually experienced the life up here. I wanted to share this unique lifestyle with visitors without them having to forgo the comforts of a luxury holiday.'

At the time of writing it cost $1800 for return flights to the station and $2000 a night to stay.

Matthew's mother Lady Prue Wallis is also very active in the Wanaka community, holding roles on local and national committees including the local ski club, arts-related organisations and the New Zealand National Parks and Conservation Foundation. She was a founding trustee of Wanaka's successful Festival of Colour and remains as patron of the event.