Tycoon feared dead after air crash

The wife of one of New Zealand's richest men was last night clinging to faint hopes her husband was still alive, after searchers failed yesterday to find any sign of his missing helicopter on the North Island's west coast.

Fifty-year-old liquor businessman Michael Erceg, whose personal wealth is an estimated $620 million, and Dutch beer company executive Guus Klatte are missing after the helicopter, piloted by Mr Erceg, disappeared from radar screens south of Raglan on Friday.

Erceg's wife Lynnette told the Herald on Sunday she was devastated.

"There's always hope. If you just think that the most wonderful husband in the world has gone missing – how would you feel? That's how I feel. He is so wonderful.

"He believed in doing good quietly, not by publication. He was a humble person with a huge heart. I want him back."

Mr Erceg made his fortune from alcopop drinks manufactured through Papakura-based Independent Distillers Groups.

The former Kelston Boys' High School pupil was known for keeping true to his West Auckland roots – the missing Eurocopter helicopter was known as his only indulgence.

Raglan police constable Dave Litton said six or seven residents had heard the helicopter flying through on Friday. "One person heard a loud bang and one heard what she thought was the rotor motor slowing down."

One resident said: "It sounded like an airplane landed. It was very loud. I heard it from inside the house. Just this strange sound like an airplane… like a dying down sort of sound.

"I was actually expecting to hear a bang or something. The sound lasted three or four seconds. Like a winding down sound. As soon as I heard it, I thought it was a plane crashing."

Locals say the weather was extreme on Friday, with fog and mist low over the mountain.

Searchers, including some members of the Erceg family, were focusing yesterday on the eastern slope of Mt Karioi, south of Raglan. Eight helicopters, including four hired by the Erceg family, were involved in the search.

Family member Arthur Rakich said the family had drawn together as they faced another night's uncertainty. "It's very hard. He is so good to his family. [Mr Erceg's mother Millie] lost her daughter a year or two ago and now Michael. I feel very sorry for her. We will be praying for him tonight. It doesn't look too good. We're hoping for a miracle."

A family friend also indicated the family had only faint hopes. "We know what we are looking for."

Farmer Paul Simmons, who has five years' possum-hunting experience in the Mt Karioi area, said he heard the helicopter and considered the weather extremely dangerous to fly in. "You could hardly see the trees. It would be a bit foolhardy in those conditions. And it was low. I've heard them come through in bad conditions before but yesterday was the worst."

Mr Simmons said there had been a previous crash in bad weather on Mt Karioi, when the helicopter pilot failed to see a cliff in time. Four people were killed in the 2000 crash. "It's treacherous out there, it's rugged. I think they are going to be looking in there for the next few days."

The weather forecast today is not good for the area, and is likely to make it too dangerous for an airborne search.

Distraught family members gathered yesterday at the $2m Papakura mansion Mr Erceg shares with his wife Lyn. The property was yesterday being protected by security guards hired by Independent Distillers.

Rick Lucas, chief executive of Helipro in Palmerston North, said any pilot caught in bad weather was best to land or turn away.

Mr Lucas, who has 25 years' search and rescue experience, said it was unlikely Mr Erceg was sufficiently trained in flying to navigate through bad weather on instruments only. "There are no safety concerns around the EC120. It is a new generation helicopter and they have had a good history all around the world."

Rescue Coordination Centre spokeswoman Heidi Brook said five teams of four volunteer searchers and eight helicopters were used yesterday. One team was still in the bush at 9.15pm. "It's a little bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. They are looking for a maroon coloured helicopter, it's quite dark.

"It really is weather dependent. In terms of Sunday's search - if the weather is bad and visibility not good we will not be searching. The forecast is not looking good. We might be able to get ground teams in there."

Ms Brook said Mr Klatte had only arrived in New Zealand on Friday morning and flew straight out again from Ardmore.

Waitakere City Council Mayor Bob Harvey said he feared the city had lost a silent hero in Mr Erceg. "He is truly one of the West's biggest success stories. I can only pay him the most absolutely supreme of tributes."

Business associate Michael Whittaker said Erceg was extremely private.

"There were no pretences about him at all... He created something that was hugely significant to New Zealand - he singlehandedly kept the New Zealand liquor industry competitive.

"He certainly didn't do it for ego by any stretch, he didn't do it for recognition, he didn't do it for media coverage. He did it because he enjoyed what he did."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY