Wellington, New Zealand: Two experienced aviation and hunting professionals were killed after a chartered helicopter crashed in remote alpine terrain inside Mount Aspiring National Park on New Zealand’s South Island during a guided hunting operation.
The victims were identified as pilot Tim Brown and hunting guide Sean Roach, both associated with Alpine Group Limited, also known as Alpine Helicopters. The company confirmed their deaths on May 18, describing both men as “highly experienced and valued members of a close-knit team.”
According to New Zealand Police, emergency services received the first reports of the crash at around 9:50 a.m. local time on Sunday. The helicopter came down in rugged mountainous terrain in the upper Te Naihi River area of South Westland, approximately 24 kilometres west of Makarora and between Mount Aspiring and Mount Victor.
Authorities said the aircraft was engaged in a guided hunting charter when it crashed into a mountainside inside the national park. Brown and Roach were the only occupants on board at the time of the accident. Three additional members of the hunting party were on the ground when the helicopter went down and survived without reported injuries.
Alpine Group stated that the flight had been operating in “clear and calm conditions,” adding further uncertainty to the cause of the accident. The company said it was devastated by the loss and extended condolences to the families of both victims.
“We are devastated to confirm that both pilot Tim Brown and guide Sean Roach were tragically killed,” the company said in a statement.
The operator also thanked New Zealand Police, the Rescue Coordination Centre, Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Queenstown Alpine Cliff Rescue teams and other emergency responders for their rapid response in difficult terrain.
Investigators from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have launched parallel investigations into the crash. TAIC confirmed that a specialist team had arrived at the site and split into two groups, with one examining the wreckage while another interviewed witnesses and gathered operational evidence. Investigators are expected to remain in the area for several days due to the remoteness of the location.
The wreckage had not yet been removed as of the latest updates, with investigators saying recovery would occur “when practicable.”
The helicopter departed Wanaka Airport at approximately 7:39 a.m. and climbed above 5,500 feet before heading north toward the Southern Alps. The aircraft’s last recorded position at around 8:11 a.m. showed it descending to slightly above 3,000 feet before contact was lost.
Tim Brown was widely known in New Zealand’s aviation sector and had previously flown for operators including Paton Air, Roncato Helicopters and Elite Aviation Services before joining Alpine Helicopters. Reports described him as particularly respected within agricultural and farming aviation circles.
A fundraising campaign launched for Brown’s family said his death came as a “heartbreaking shock.” He is survived by his wife and daughter. Brown had also recently invested heavily into a new business venture, creating additional uncertainty for his family following the tragedy.
Sean Roach was a former captain of the Otago men’s amateur golf team and was well known within hunting and sporting communities in the South Island. He had survived a serious hunting accident in 2008 after being gored by a stag near Naseby, suffering significant puncture wounds. The cause of the latest Mount Aspiring crash remains under investigation.
