A Kennebunk resident, wildlife biologist and former selectman was killed Wednesday in a helicopter crash in remote Alaska, where he was leading conservation work, along with the helicopter’s pilot.
Shiloh Schulte’s death was confirmed Sunday in a statement from his employer, Manomet Conservation Sciences, a research and conservation nonprofit based in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
“Shiloh was a deeply respected member of the Manomet Conservation Sciences team, whose passion for shorebird conservation and unwavering commitment to protecting our planet inspired everyone fortunate enough to work alongside him,” the organization said in a written statement posted to social media.
In addition to his conservation work, Schulte served as a member of the Kennebunk Select Board between 2015 and 2024, including a stint as board chair starting in 2022. He decided in 2024 not to seek reelection.
According to the Boston Globe, Schulte and the helicopter pilot were flying from Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay to a remote area in the North Slope region accessible only by helicopter, where Schulte planned to outfit shorebirds with recording devices. The crash occurred on the first day of the study, the Globe reported.
Schulte, 46, is survived by a wife and two daughters, the Globe reported.
Alaska Public Media, the state’s NPR affiliate, identified the pilot as 54-year-old Jonathan Guibas, who worked for Pollux Aviation in the Alaskan town of Wasilla.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that two people were killed when the Robinson R-66 helicopter crashed near Kuparuk, Alaska, on Wednesday.
NTSB Alaska Region Chief Clint Johnson said his agency was notified of a missing helicopter Wednesday afternoon and found wreckage from a crash roughly 30 miles west of Deadhorse, in the far northern reaches of Alaska, according to the Associated Press.
The crash is under investigation by the NTSB, which probes all U.S. civil aviation accidents. NTSB crews were on the scene of the crash Friday and planned to transport the wreckage to Deadhorse for further examination.
The NTSB does not comment on a potential cause of the crash prior to the release of its preliminary report, which is typically issued with 30 days of the incident.
At Manomet Conservation Sciences, Schulte coordinated research and management programs that support the recovery of beach-nesting birds such as the American oystercatcher, according to his biography on the organization’s website. The organization said in its statement that Schulte’s work contributed to a 45% increase in the population of American oystercatchers. The American Bird Conservancy says the bird faces threats from pollution, coastal development, climate change and other human activity.
He held a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology from the University of Vermont, and later earned a doctorate from North Carolina State University, where he studied American oystercatchers on the Outer Banks.
Schulte was also a competitive distance runner. In 2019, he was the top Maine finisher in the Boston Marathon, which he ran again as recently as this past April. He also held a second-degree black belt in tae kwon do, according to his Manomet biography.
