Chopper crash pilot ‘in a good place’ before ill-fated flight through Cairns on Monday

New details have emerged about the man killed in a bizarre helicopter crash in Cairns, suggesting the incident was likely a tragic case of misadventure.

Blake Wilson.

A young ground crew worker killed in a helicopter crash in Cairns was named “employee of the month” at Nautilus Aviation in the days before the incident.

Blake Wilson, 23, held a New Zealand commercial helicopter pilots licence but was not yet authorised to fly for Nautilus, where he had just won a promotion to a new base on Horn ­Island.

Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn said Mr Wilson joined the company four months ago, and had been a “model employee” who had been recognised at a workplace function on Thursday. “He was in a good place,” said Mr Finn.

A NZ pilot who flew with Mr Wilson described him as “cautious and competent ... if anything too cautious, he was pretty slow.”

The pilot told NZ media Mr Wilson was not “God’s gift to aviation” but he “met the standard”.

He queried the idea that Mr Wilson took out the helicopter on a whim, saying: “It is not like getting behind the wheel of a car, [the process to start a helicopter] is much harder than that... something would have really had to snap.

“When he got in that helicopter, he would have known his career was over whether he died or not,” he said.

The accolades made the events of Monday morning even more difficult to fathom, with Mr Wilson celebrating his promotion at a private event with colleagues hours beforehand.

Most of the revellers had left by 8.30pm but it was understood Mr Wilson chose to stay as he did not have work on Monday.

It remained a mystery as to why he decided to go to Cairns Airport about 1am and take out an R44 Robinson helicopter.

His vehicle was not in the carpark so it was unclear how he got there about 45 minutes before taking off on the ill-fated flight.

A pincode shared among Nautilus Aviation staff was used to access the hangar, and the keys were already in the helicopter, which was standard practice among operators, said Mr Finn.

Within about four minutes of getting airborne, Mr Wilson was dead, killed instantly when the helicopter smashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel and burst into flames.

In a case of what police called “pure luck”, no one else was seriously hurt as hotel staff helped evacuate up to 400 people on to Cairns Esplanade.

Mr Finn was woken by a call from police shortly after and headed straight to the hangar at Cairns Airport, where he was at a loss to understand who was responsible.

An Instagram post made by Mr Wilson in September 2022 highlighted his pride in obtaining his commercial pilots licence with Christchurch Helicopters.

He thanked the company, his friends and family in helping him “fulfil this dream” after “18 months of hard mahi, late nights in the books and some challenging days in the seat”.

“But all up an incredible experience,” he wrote.

Documenting his relocation to Cairns in April, Mr Wilson said he was “excited to see what this adventure brings”.

A statement from Christchurch Helicopters on Wednesday reflected the sentiments of Mr Finn and others who knew him. “Blake was well-liked by staff and his classmates,” said the company.

“He will be missed by the team at Christchurch Helicopters and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

His tennis squad from his home town of Palmerston North also paid tribute, head coach Jono Spring expressing his shock and sadness at a life taken too so

Additional reporting: Cairns Post

Originally published as Chopper crash pilot ‘in a good place’ before ill-fated flight through Cairns on Monday