A man and woman killed in a small plane crash were on their way to spread the ashes of a loved one when they died.
Pilot Greig Wanless, 67, and respected artistic identity Kate Callingham, 39, died after their light plane crashed at Mount Beauty Airport in eastern Victoria on Saturday.
Wanless’s wife said the couple were flying to scatter the ashes of Max Cunningham, Callingham’s father and Wanless’s best friend.
“He made a beautiful tribute before he went up,” Karen Wanless told the Herald of the sun.
“He died doing the two things he loved: flying and helping people.”
Pilot Greig Wanless (pictured) and respected artistic identity Kate Callingham died after their light plane crashed on Saturday.
Mr Wanless’s wife said the couple were flying to scatter the ashes of Max Cunningham, Mrs Callingham’s father (pictured) and Mr Wanless’s best friend.
Mrs Wanless described her husband as an “incredible” builder, CFA firefighter, gliding instructor, teacher, father, husband and “friend to the end.”
Wanless had 40 years of flying experience and was an active member of the Yarrambat community in Melbourne’s north.
He was a teacher at Ivanhoe Grammar School and ran a scholarship program for students interested in becoming pilots.
Wanless leaves behind “three beautiful children” who are “absolutely devastated” by his sudden death.
Ms Callingham was a mother to a five-and-a-half-month-old baby and worked for the City of Casey and the City of Melbourne in arts management.
In a statement on Saturday, her grieving family described her as a “dear mother, daughter and friend, and an enthusiastic leader in the arts and cultural life in Melbourne”.
“She was widely respected and loved for her clear moral orientation, her adventurous spirit and her formidable, level-headed good sense,” they said.
“Kate was loved for her kindness, her easy laugh and for always being the most capable person in the room.”
Ms Callingham previously worked as a board member of The Lifted Brow literary magazine, a consultant for The Stella Prize literary awards, and co-executive director of the Emerging Writers Festival.
Victoria Police believe the small plane was flying over Embankment Dr when it crashed at 1.45pm.
Victoria Police believe the small plane was flying over Embankment Dr when it crashed at 1.45pm (pictured, emergency services at the scene)
Witnesses reported seeing the plane apparently struggling to land before crashing into a meadow, just in front of the runway (pictured, police at the scene).
Witnesses reported seeing the plane apparently struggling to land before crashing into a meadow, just in front of the runway.
Emergency services worked to save the couple but they both died at the scene.
The police will prepare a report for the coroner.
