Three killed in Queensland light plane crash

A millionaire agribusiness leader and his son are among three people who have died after a light plane crash near Brisbane.

The Queensland agriculture industry has lost one of its most prominent figures after Packhorse Pastoral executive director Tom Strachan, 49, and his 20-year-old son Noah were among three people who tragically died in a light plane crash on Monday.

The Courier Mail reported the Cessna aircraft dropped from 2000ft to 500ft after running into hazardous weather before crashing near Fernvale, about an hour west of Brisbane, at 10am on Monday.

The plane reportedly left Mr Strachan’s Roma property in western Queensland on Monday morning at about 7.20am, before stopping in Dalby about 9am.

The plane took off again 15 minutes later, losing contact with air traffic support a short time later near Ipswich about 10am.

Pilot Gary Liehm also died in the accident.

Mr Strachan was one of Queensland’s most prominent landholders and businessmen as the founder of mining, construction and agricultural labour hire firm AWX, which he started in 2000.

Queensland grazier Tom Strachan, 49, has died in a light plane crash outside of Brisbane on Monday.

In 2015 he purchased Lighthouse Station, near Roma for $14 million and also owns Lorraine station at Roma.

Mr Strachan was also the executive director with beef supply chain investment firm Packhorse Pastoral.

Over the past few years Packhorse Pastoral have acquired 80,000ha of land within its portfolio across NSW and Queensland.

Mr Strachan’s son was also tragically killed in the plane crash.

He was working as an analyst at Brisbane real estate and investment company Benstead Holdaway, after studying at QUT and Brisbane Grammar School.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it had commenced an investigation into the tragedy.