Townsville pilot dies in plane crash south of Atherton

A man has died in a plane crash in Far North Queensland.

Police say the alarm was raised when the aircraft failed to arrive at Atherton.

It was found at the Herberton Range, south of Atherton, in an aerial search about 4pm.

The male pilot, a 71-year-old Townsville man, was found dead at the scene.

No-one else was in the aircraft when it crashed.

The crash will be investigated by the Forensic Crash Unit and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.