Arts identity Kate Callingham and pilot Greig Wanless die in Mount Beauty plane crash

The pilot killed in the Mount Beauty plane crash which claimed two lives has been identified as Greig Wanless - as the sad reason he was flying with passenger Kate Callingham has been revealed.

Mount Beauty Airport. Source: Google Maps

The wife of the pilot who was one of two people killed in a horror light plane crash at Mount Beauty Airport, in the state’s northeast, has revealed her husband died doing two things he loved - flying and helping people.

Greig Wanless was killed alongside his passenger and respected arts industry identity Kate Callingham on Saturday.

The 67-year-old’s wife Karen told the Herald Sun Mr Wanless had been flying to scatter the ashes of his best mate Max Callingham, who was also Ms Callingham’s father.

Ms Callingham, 39, who had a five-and-a-half month old baby, and Mr Wanless were involved in a special memorial for him before taking to the air.

“He was scattering the ashes of his best mate,” Ms Wanless told the Herald Sun.

“The ashes belonged to the father of the other victim.

“He did a beautiful memorial before he went up.

Greig Wanless, 67, has been remembered by family members as an “upstanding pillar of the community”. Picture: Supplied

“He died doing the two things he loved - flying and helping people.”

Ms Wanless paid tribute to her husband saying “he was an amazing builder, CFA firefighter, gliding instructor, teacher, father, husband and friend right to the end”.

She described him as an “upstanding pillar of the community”.

Mr Wanless leaves behind “three beautiful kids” who were said to be “absolutely devastated” with one of his daughters telling the Herald Sun they all “loved him very much.”

The pilot, who had more than 40 years of flight experience, was an active member of the Yarrambat community who also worked as a gliding instructor.

Being remembered as a man who devoted his time to those around him, he was also a firefighter “involved in every possible volunteer position within the CFA”.

“He was such a good mate for everyone and would drop everything to help anyone,” Ms Wanless said.

The father of three also previously worked as a teacher at Ivanhoe Grammar.

After retiring from his teaching role, he still took time to be a part of the school’s cadet program.

The CEO of Gliding Australia Doug Flockhart also paid tribute to the pilot.

“The pilot was experienced and known for his love of soaring and the camaraderie within the club,” he said.

Kate Callingham, 39, is one of two people killed in the plane crash. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile a statement on behalf of Ms Callingham’s family released on Saturday said she was “a beloved mother, daughter and friend, and a keen-minded leader in the arts and cultural life in Melbourne.”

“She was widely respected and beloved for her clear moral compass, adventurous spirit and formidable, level-headed, good sense.

“Kate was loved for her kindness, easy laughter and always being the most capable person in the room.”

Ms Callingham worked for the City of Casey and the City of Melbourne in arts management. She was a former board member at The Lifted Brow literary journal and a consultant at The Stella Prize literary awards.

She was also co-chief executive of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, among other roles in the literary and arts communities.

CFA Commander Brett Myers said a number of family and friends came to the airport following the crash.

“(They) could see what unfolded which was quite confronting,” he said.

Emergency crews responded to reports of the crash at the Mount Beauty Airport on Saturday afternoon.

“It is believed the pair were flying over Embankment Drive when the aircraft crashed about 1.45pm,” a Victoria Police statement read.

“The pair were the only occupants of the aircraft.”

Ambulance Victoria dispatched several crews and remained on scene on Saturday afternoon.

“Ambulance Victoria paramedics were called to a report of an aircraft incident in Mount Beauty,” a statement read.

“Paramedics responded with significant resources dispatched to the scene including Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics and an air ambulance.

“Paramedics treated two people.”

Emergency services on scene of a light plane crash in Mount Beauty. Picture: Supplied

One traveller at the scene said it appeared the light plane was trying to land before it careered into a paddock just before the tarmac.

“I was at the end of the runway where the crash happened,” witness Tony told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“A light plane looks like it came up short of the runway.

“They were doing CPR on two people.

“It potentially flipped upside down on landing … the plane is wrecked.”

The CFA said all units would remain at the site for some time.

“Units responded from Mount Beauty and Tawonga and Mount Beauty’s designated rescue team,” a CFA statement read.

“Ambulance Victoria, Air Ambulance and Victoria Police are also on scene assisting occupants.

“Emergency service crews will remain on scene for quite some time.”

The Mount Beauty Airport is located in the heart of the tourist town in the state’s north east.

Filmmaker and photographer Mathew Farrell was killed after the light plane he was flying crashed less than an hour after he took off from Mount Beauty Airport in September 2022.

The Victorian Coroner’s Court this year heard Mr Farrell had about 15 hours of flight time with an instructor before he was granted a flying certificate by Recreational Aviation Australia.

Grim flight details showed the speed of his Jabiru J230 dropped significantly before it crashed into mountains near Lucyvale.

The airport operates a single bitumen runway about 1500m in length.

The airport’s website encourages pilots to fly over the airfield before landing to ensure other aircraft, paragliders and animals are clear from the landing strip.

“The airfield is uncertified,” the website states.

“Landing permission not required.

“(The) grass runway strip may be too soft for landing, depending on preceding rainfall.”