Missing pilot from Wanaka presumed dead as search enters recovery phase

Matthew Wallis, the son of the aviation pioneer and founder of Warbirds Over Wanaka, Sir Tim Wallis and his wife

Police are confident of recovering the body of a pilot and d & # 39; a well known tourist figure. Lady Prue came down after leaving Wanaka Airport for a short solo flight to Mount Aspiring National Park on Saturday afternoon.

An oil slick was sighted one kilometer north of Stevensons Island in the southeast corner of Lake Otago.

Search and rescue teams reached the debris but found no one, and police divers scoured the water.

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Detective Sergeant Der ek Shaw said Sunday night that he was "confident" that the 39-year-old body would be found

"We are very motivated to do that, it's the worst nightmare of a parent to have such an incident.] "If we can help – we can not change what happened – but if we can help mitigate a small degree of suffering by bringing Matt home, we will make every effort to do so. "

Shaw, who knows the members He says the family had offered help to help with the search, sending two helicopters shortly after Wallis disappeared.

"The family is facing the loss of their brother and son and they have done a fantastic job under painful circumstances of which we are grateful," said Shaw [19659002] "They gave us the break we needed. to try to solve this research … now they can continue their mourning and take care of themselves. "

Shaw said the land search had largely concluded, with Monday's water-focused efforts northwest of Stevensons Island." We believe the wreck is in a reasonably defined area and we're working with the experience of the dive team and boat operators in a wider area. "

Alpine Helicopters, a company led by two Wallis brothers, said in a statement that he had left the base on Saturday at 12:54. a private flight from Wanaka to drop supplies into a national park pavilion

It was expected that the flight would last 15 minutes, but at 1:08 pm, the Robinson 44 helicopter would could not be reached by radio

. two more helicopters from the company were scrambled to search for the missing plane and pilot.

Shaw would not be sure Wallis should have flown in Saturday's time.

winds in the area and rain, although the various parts of the terrain around here can be sheltered according to the prevailing winds.

"Any comment on the suitability of the flight is not to my knowledge."

Matt Wallis was one of four brothers-brother to Toby, Jonathan and Nick-who together run Minaret Station, a working farm and exclusive mountain resort on a glacial valley in the Southern Alps accessible only by helicopter.

Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult was shocked to hear the news. The Crash

"I'm sure I speak for everyone that it's heartbreaking.He was terribly known," said Boult. "When the family arrives, the whole neighborhood, our heart goes to them. "

The Queenstown Lakes aviation community has already been struck by tragedy. Wallis himself was involved in a search for a friend, Morgan Saxton, who died in another helicopter crash in Lake Wanaka

Wallis Friends has stated that after Saxton's death, he worked tirelessly Calum MacLeod, deputy mayor of Queenstown Lakes, said: "It's him who drove Morgan's healing."

MacLeod, owner of the famous Cinema Paradiso in Wanaka, knows the Wallis family. He was expecting to see Sir Tim at the movies on Saturday afternoon – but that was not the case

Instead, at around 4 pm, he received news from the portmaster's office about the weather. ;accident.

"Around 8 o'clock, I received the phone call saying that it was Matt," MacLeod sadly. "It's a tragedy when a young man's life is interrupted, he's missing at this point, we always hope for the best, but we fear the worst."

MacLeod offered his respects and condolences to the Wallis family. I have known them for years and I feel for them right now, it is a highly respected young man and it is really a shame. "

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) will investigate the Saturday incident

In 2016, Robinson helicopters were placed on the TAIC's" watch list "of the most serious transportation concerns of the country

At the time, about 300 Robinson helicopters were registered in New Zealand – mainly R22 and R44 models – of the country's total helicopter fleet. [19659035] Stuff