Lowood plane crash Queensland: Businessman Tom Strachan, son Noah and pilot Gary Liehm killed

Millionaire businessman and his son are identified as victims of horrific plane crash along with experienced pilot who chauffeured the Hemsworths

  • Three men were killed after light aircraft went down in Queensland’s southeast
  • Light plane went down outside of Lowood near Fernvale northwest of Ipswich
  • Tom Strachan, 49, his 20-year-old son Noah and pilot Gary Liehm died in crash
  • The aircraft was reported missing after failing to return from flight on Monday

A millionaire agribusiness leader and his son along with an experienced pilot who rubbed shoulders with actor Chris Hemsworth have been identified as the three victims of a horror plane crash.

The Cessna aircraft crashed in a remote bushland near Lowood an hour west of Brisbane on Monday, killing all three on board.

The crash scene is so remote emergency responders experienced great difficulty accessing the wreckage.

Tom Strachan, 49, and his 20-year-old son Noah have been identified as victims, along with experienced pilot Gary Liehm.

Mr Strachan was a farmer and businessman who founded mining, construction and agricultural labour hire firm AWX in 2000, which was sold for a reported $25 million on 2016.

He was working with investment firm Packhorse as executive director and chief storyteller, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Agribusiness leader Tom Strachan (pictured) was one of three men killed in the crash

Gary Liehm (pictured right with Chris Hemsworth) was an experienced pilot

Gary Liehm (pictured right with Chris Hemsworth) was an experienced pilot

His son Noah was an analyst at Brisbane real estate and investment company Benstead Holdaway.

Noah was studying property economics and business at Queensland University of Technology and previously attended Brisbane Grammar School, the same school as his father. 

Mr Liehm was chief executive of Executive Helicopters who had flown for SeaWorld, Queensland emergency authorities and Thor actor Hemsworth.

‘Tom just took on the world; he was so successful and always made time for everyone,’ a shattered friend told the Courier Mail.

Shocked business associates have also taken to LinkedIn to pay tribute.

‘My agribusiness connection to Tom, had been conversational and aspirational,’ one woman posted.

‘His property(s) were on my road trip map to visit (post- Pandemic). We shared similar values, and philanthropic community values. He loved it, I aspired it. An emerging Ag business connection and industry friendship gone too soon.’

Emergency services were called to the scene just outside of Lowood near Fernvale, north-west of Ipswich after the plane plummeted on Monday.

The aircraft was reported missing after failing to return from a flight earlier in the day.

It’s understood the aircraft ran into bad weather before dropping.

Tom Strachan's son Noah, 20, also died in the crash

Tom Strachan’s son Noah, 20, also died in the crash

Three Australians are feared to have died in a horror plane crash after the missing aircraft went down in Queensland bushland (pictured, police at the scene outside of Lowood)

Three Australians are feared to have died in a horror plane crash after the missing aircraft went down in Queensland bushland (pictured, police at the scene outside of Lowood)

Emergency services were called to the scene just outside of Lowood near Fernvale, northwest of Ipswich in the state's southeast on Monday afternoon

Emergency services were called to the scene just outside of Lowood near Fernvale, northwest of Ipswich in the state’s southeast on Monday afternoon

A search was launched after the plane was confirmed to be overdue with police yet to reveal details about the aircraft, its flight plan or intended destination. 

It was tracked leaving Roma in western Queensland on Monday morning before disappearing in the Somerset region

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation 

‘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,’ a spokesperson said.

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