Lowood plane crash: Experienced pilot, millionaire businessman and son die

Police are appealing for anyone who saw a light aircraft flying low before it crashed west of Brisbane on Monday, with the deaths of three people - including millionaire Tom Strachan - now confirmed.

Three people tragically killed in a light plane crash west of Brisbane have been identified as millionaire agribusiness leader Tom Strachan, his son Noah, and renowned senior pilot Gary Liehm.

The Cessna light aircraft was bound for Brisbane’s Archerfield Airport when it took off from Roma at 7.20am on Monday before landing at Dalby shortly before 9am, according to flight tracker data.

It then took off again at 9.15am before being impacted by bad weather, causing it to rapidly drop from 2000ft to 500ft, crashing near Fernvale about 10am.

Police first became notified of the crash when the plane was reported as “overdue” about 2.30pm.

They have today appealed for anyone who may have seen the plane in the Fernvale or Lowood area, or who heard a plane flying low, to come forward.

Rescue crews struggled to access the crash site, which was limited to four-wheel-drive vehicles, with paramedics taking hours to make their way through the rugged bushland.

Tom Strachan was a passenger on the flight.

Tom’s son, Noah, was also on board.

The plane was eventually found split in two, with wreckage strewn 50m apart in the bushland.

Medics were winched down to the crash site, but sadly, there were no survivors.

Among those dead were senior helicopter pilot Gary Liehm, 63, who was believed to be flying the plane at the time of the crash.

Mr Liehm was an experienced pilot and chief executive of Executive Helicopters, previously flying for the likes of SeaWorld and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and was also known to privately chauffeur celebrities including the Hemsworth family.

His passengers were millionaire business mogul Tom Strachan, 48, and his son Noah, 20.

The plane crashed in bushland west of Brisbane. Picture: 7 News

Mr Strachan was renowned for building the AWX empire and was a leader in agribusiness and regenerative farming.

A celebrated horseman and Brisbane Grammar “old boy,” Mr Strachan has been remembered as a beloved mentor and someone who was always willing to give a helping hand to his community.

“Tom just took on the world; he was so successful and always made time for everyone,” a family friend said on Monday night.

“It’s incredibly tragic – he was beautiful, generous and an absolute horseman. He loved his horses.

“It’s just surreal, and devastating.”

Tom Strachan will also be remembered as a supporter and champion of regional and indigenous students, having donated to bursaries designed to make education in Brisbane more accessible to “bush kids”.

As part of Brisbane Grammar School’s 2021 Giving Day, he donated $500,000 to needs-based bursaries at the School.

“We need to be a school that attracts kids who come from all walks of life. The opportunity of an education can spur them on to become leaders and give back to society,” he said.

“That’s why I think bursaries are so important. I think BGS needs the kid from Cunnamulla and the kid from Ipswich; the kid from Woodridge or Cairns, who provide a different flavour to the school”.

Mr Strachan owns the famous Lighthouse property at Roma, where the plane took off early on Monday morning.

The wreckage of the plane. Picture: ABC News

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman confirmed an investigation had started into the crash.

“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has commenced an investigation into an accident involving a Cessna light aircraft, which collided with terrain near Lake Wivenhoe, in South East Queensland, on Monday,” the spokesman said.

“The ATSB expects to deploy a team of transport safety investigators from its Brisbane office, with expertise in engineering, aircraft operations and maintenance, to the accident site on Tuesday.”

Authorities are expected to remain at the crash scene for some time as they battle the terrain to retrieve the deceased.

Archerfield Airport general manager Rod Parry said the group was “concerned and aware” of the accident but was unable to provide details of the pilot or the passengers involved.

“We’re very, very concerned about what’s happened,” he told The Courier-Mail.

Wreckage of the plane that crashed west of Brisbane.