Helicopter pilot Morgan David Saxton (31) was not perfect, but he was a good person, his friends say.
That his memory might be forever tarnished by a conviction for stealing greenstone cuts deeply for those who would rather have seen the man redeem himself.
They would rather that he lived a fruitful life of continued service to his community than be constantly referred to as a convicted greenstone thief who crashed a helicopter.
"He is a very lovable character," Minaret Station farmer Jonathan Wallis said.
"He is very open, always putting other people before himself. A breath of fresh air."
The most poignant thing about Mr Saxton's accident was that he and his father Dave had been "through the wringer" regarding the notorious Greenstone Case, but Morgan had always kept his chin up, Mr Wallis said.
"As far as he was concerned, there were worse things happening to better people . . . And while they have a conviction, the same judicial system that sentenced them to jail has released them from jail on grounds of appeal.
"The tremendously sad thing here is that Morgan won't be given the opportunity to clear his name. As far as we [friends] were concerned, he was not a criminal. He was a gentleman," Mr Wallis said yesterday.
Mr Saxton's aviation career spanned most of his life.
He left school aged 15 and began working for his father, Dave, a highly regarded pilot in the helicopter, venison recovery and tourism industry.
Mr Saxton was a volunteer search and rescue pilot in South Westland and Central Otago and helped fight fires throughout Central Otago with his helicopter and monsoon bucket.
Through the family company, Heliventures Ltd, he did frost-fighting at vineyards, flew hunting and fishing clients to remote mountains and rivers, worked on pest destruction missions and took scenic flights.
He had achieved a wide and varied aviation career within a short timespan of some 12-14 years and was regarded as "extremely clever" and a "very, very capable" pilot.
The Wallis brothers - Toby, Jonathan, Nick and Matt - regarded Mr Saxton as if he was another brother and many other helicopter pilots felt the same way, Mr Wallis said.
Mr Saxton was also a devoted partner of his long-term girlfriend Millie White, Mr Wallis said.
After Mr Saxton and his 63-year-old father Dave were sentenced to jail in February this year for greenstone thefts between October 1997 and September 2003, the community of about 300 residents rallied around and the Saxton Appeal Trust was formed.
While the Saxtons were working in Paparoa Prison's engineering workshop their friends held aerial protests, fundraising auctions and produced a calendar to promote appeals.
At an auction in Wanaka in April, a cardboard cut-out of Mr Saxton was a very popular item and sold for $1700 after an intense bidding war between young women.
His cap sold for $1000.
From just that one event, the friends raised $50,000 for the Saxton cause.
By the end of April, the fund had reached about $140,000.
The initiative of 12 local women who shed their shirts for a calendar raised several thousand dollars more at a large party in May, held at the Hard Antler Bar and Restaurant.
When the men were released on bail later that month, pending appeals, the town threw another large party at the pub.
Last night, the Haast community was rallying again, trying not to speculate but facing the fact Mr Saxton has probably died, but if Mr Saxton was still with the helicopter, everyone wanted him back, Mr Wallis said.
"There's an element of optimism in everyone but at the same time everyone is realistic to what is unfolding here."
