A recent WorldHow report reveals that a pilot crashed a helicopter onto a hotel roof following alcohol consumption. Investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
An investigation into a helicopter crash that resulted in the death of a pilot on an Australian hotel’s roof has uncovered that alcohol was involved and the pilot did not have the necessary qualifications to fly at night.
The accident that took place on August 12 in the tropical city of Cairns led to the evacuation of 400 people from the hotel. Two guests received treatment for smoke inhalation.
On Thursday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) published its final report, which confirmed that Blake Wilson, a 23-year-old New Zealand national and pilot of the Robinson R44 helicopter, was not authorized for the four-minute flight. Furthermore, there were no mechanical failures contributing to the crash.
Wilson, employed by Nautilus Aviation since April, possessed commercial pilot licenses in both Australia and New Zealand with experience flying the R44 model. Despite this, his main role at the company was as a ground handler, and he lacked certification to operate aircraft during nighttime hours.
“The report indicated that although the flight was deliberate, there was no evidence to clarify the pilot’s intentions.”
Wilson was set to be transported by Nautilus Aviation to an island 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Cairns on the day of the accident. However, he had spent the previous evening drinking with colleagues and friends at several local bars before heading back to his apartment.
Toxicology reports revealed that Wilson had a “considerable blood-alcohol content” during the crash, though they did not specify the precise level. The findings confirmed he was “influenced by alcohol.”
Upon returning to his apartment, Wilson headed to Cairns Airport. There, he used a security code to enter a Nautilus hangar and took off in the helicopter. He piloted it over his apartment twice, flew above a wharf complex, and followed along the waterfront before crashing occurred. Security footage showed the helicopter suddenly pitching upward before descending onto the hotel roof where most of its wreckage was found.
Wilson’s flight remained below an altitude of 500 feet (152 meters), which did not meet the Australian aviation regulation that mandates pilots to maintain at least a 1,000-foot (304-meter) altitude over densely populated areas.
Angus Mitchell, the Chief Commissioner of the ATSB, observed that Wilson had intentionally switched off the helicopter’s strobe lights, hindering air traffic control from detecting his flight.
“The pilot clearly took deliberate steps to hide the true purpose of the flight,” Mitchell stated during a press briefing.
“This is truly a unique situation for the ATSB to investigate,” he mentioned.
