QLD crash victim would fly to relax

TRIBUTES are flowing for a Queensland plane crash victim who would spend his weekends in the skies to relax.

John Stortelder, 58, was on a regular Sunday morning flight when his light plane came down and burst into flames in the Lockyer Valley in southeast Queensland on Sunday morning.

The fatal crash occurred about 7.20am (AEST) at Gatton, west of Ipswich.

Firefighters say the aircraft slammed into a transport depot on Princes Road and bounced over a fence before coming to rest on an embankment.

The crash occurred in the same area as the local airpark, where Mr Stortelder spent a lot of time, friends say.

Members of tight-knit flying community in Gatton have remembered Mr Stortelder as a reserved, quiet man who loved to fly.

"He was a lovely guy," friend Martin Hone said.

"Its just such a shame and has really affected everyone out here."

Mr Hone, who had known Mr Stortelder for six years, was also flying when the father-of-two crashed.

"He did have a lot of flying time," he said.

"He had been flying for a few years but took it very seriously and flew regularly.

"On weekends he would come out to the airpark to fly his planes and that was his relaxation."

Lockyer Valley mayor Steve Jones said the tragedy would impact many at the Gatton airpark.

"It will be upsetting for the people that live there because the site is right beside the airpark."

Alec Williams knew the pilot and says he was a "good fella" who spent a lot of time at the Gatton airpark.

He told ABC radio the pilot spent weekends at the airpark and was "well respected around the place".

"He was a good fella who lived his own life."

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