Pilot killed in 'horrific' Snowy Mountains helicopter crash identified

The pilot killed in a helicopter crash in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains has been identified as an Australian businessman.

Peter Woodland, 75, co-founder of Barbeques Galore and Beef Eater Barbeques, flew frequently and even had a helipad and hanger at his Northern Beaches home.

His 64-year-old partner was also killed in the crash.

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Police and aircraft investigators remain baffled by what unfolded on his flight.

Flight radars reveal Mr Woodland took off from his property on Saturday just after 10am and flew just over an hour to Goulburn Airport.

He took off again at 11.54am and flew a further half an hour to the Canberra Heliport.

On Sunday morning the helicopter took off at 10.19am but investigators have not yet tracked what went wrong before the crash.

The aircraft was picked up briefly on the radar between Jindabyne and Khancoban where it's believed to have landed at a property due to inclement weather before taking off again on the ill-fated flight.

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At about 11.55pm on Sunday, emergency services found the wreckage of the helicopter about 200m east of the Snowy Mountains Highway at Kiandra Flats.

Police said it was an "horrific scene" and are trying to piece together what occurred.

"Just before midnight they located a horrific scene where they found a helicopter that had come down quite heavily by the looks of it," Superintendent John Klepczarek said.

Mr Klepczarek said the helicopter may have landed earlier on Sunday afternoon before taking off again prior to the crash.

"From what we understand we may have had reports of this helicopter on Sunday afternoon landing safely due to weather conditions," he said.

"Then we have reports that the chopper crashed last night."

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The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced an investigation into the crash.

"We're still piecing together the last movements and indeed the last day or so of this helicopter," ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.

"We do know that it was flying on Sunday, quite likely in company with a number of other helicopters."

"We don't know where it's launched from at this stage and whether it's refuelled.

"We do know that it's been in the air for a little bit of time.

"We don't believe that there was a distress call made."

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9News understands Mr Woodland was involved in another aircraft incident over a decade ago.

At the time, his helicopter crashed and burst into flames at Bankstown Airport, where he escaped with minor burns.