Three victims of a terrifying aircraft accident have been named: a rich agribusiness owner and his son, a seasoned pilot who often crossed paths with Chris Hemsworth, and a millionaire pilot and his kid.
All three people on board were killed when the Cessna crashed on Monday in a secluded forest close to Lowood, an hour west of Brisbane.
Because of how far away the collision location was, emergency personnel had a tough time getting to the wreckage.
The deceased have been named as 49-year-old Tom Strachan, his 20-year-old son Noah, and veteran pilot Gary Liehm.
Farmer and entrepreneur Mr. Strachan established the mining, construction, and agricultural labour hire company AWX in 2000. The company was sold in 2016 for an estimated $25 million.
According to his LinkedIn page, he was serving as executive director and chief storyteller for the investment business Packhorse.
Benstead Holdaway, a Brisbane-based real estate and investment firm, employed his son Noah as an analyst.
Noah, who previously attended Brisbane Grammar School, the same institution as his father, was studying property economics and business there.
Mr. Liehm, the CEO of Executive Helicopters, has flown for SeaWorld’s emergency authority in Queensland.
Additionally, he discreetly chauffeured famous people, such as the Hemsworths.
Many people remember Mr. Strachan Sr. as a beloved mentor who was always ready to provide a helpful hand.
He gave his old school Brisbane Grammar a generous $500,000 donation about a year ago to help out rural and Indigenous pupils.
“We need to be a school that draws students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The possibility of an education may inspire people to rise to leadership positions and contribute to society.
Bursaries are crucial, in my opinion, for this reason, Mr. Strachan once said on LinkedIn.
His passion of horses is also evident on his Facebook page.
The passing of Mr. Strachan has inspired a flood of condolences.
A devastated buddy told the Courier Mail, “Tom simply took on the world; he was so successful and always found time for everyone.”
“It’s extremely unfortunate; he was gorgeous, kind, and a master of the mount.” He was a horse lover.
Business partners who were shocked also paid homage on LinkedIn.
One lady said, “My interaction with Tom in the agricultural world had been conversational and aspirational.”
“His property(s) were on my itinerary for the road trip” (post- Pandemic). We have common beliefs and values for the charitable community. I wanted it, but he liked it. An industrial friendship and developing commercial relationship in agriculture were lost too soon.
On Monday, the flight departed from Roma at 7:20 a.m. and stopped briefly in Dalby just before 9:00 a.m.
After taking off once again at 9.15 am in the direction of Brisbane’s Archerfield Airport, the aircraft crashed 45 minutes later in poor weather close to Fernvale.
It took approximately five hours before the missing aircraft was notified.
The aircraft’s wreckage was discovered split in half and 50 metres apart.
A inquiry has been started by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
A representative for the ATSB said that a team of transport safety investigators with experience in engineering, aviation operations, and maintenance will be sent to the accident site on Tuesday.