Respected businessman and his son among three killed in light plane crash
Prominent agri-businessman Tom Strachan and his son. Noah, 20, have been named as two of the three people killed in a light plane crash on Monday. (images: The New Daily)
The aircraft crashed near Fernvale en route to Archerfield Airport, in southern Brisbane, from Dalby on the Darling Downs, on Monday.
Prominent Queensland agricultural leader Tom Strachan, was killed in the crash, along with his 20-year-old son Noah and pilot Garry Liehm, 63.
Strachan was an executive director at agri-business Packhorse, which paid tribute to the men on Tuesday.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Tom Strachan and his son Noah, along with their pilot Garry Liehm,” the company said in a statement.
“Tom was an inspiring entrepreneur. He was a generous and charismatic man with a passion for regenerative agriculture. Today our focus is on supporting his family and friends.”
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has sent a team to the crash site.
Experts will comb the wreckage to help investigators from the police Forensic Crash Unit figure out what caused the crash.
Queensland police inspector Mick Thiesfield said the primary focus was the safe retrieval of the bodies.
“Then ensuring the scene security so we can get an accurate picture of what happened with the assistance of the (ATSB),” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Police expect to be on scene until at least Wednesday.
The Cessna took off from Dalby at 9am and was due to land at Archerfield at 10am. A search found the plane about 2.50pm in dense bushland.
The three occupants were pronounced dead on site.
Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the aircraft travelling through the Fernvale or Lowood area after 9am, or heard a plane flying low, to come forward.
A preliminary ATSB report into the crash is expected within the next eight weeks.
