Married couple identified after being killed in mid-air light plane crash north of Brisbane

Tributes are flowing for the victims of the "devastating" mid-air light plane crash at an airfield in north of Brisbane.

David and Jan Maddern, both aged in their 60s, were in a Jabiru J430 that was involved in the crash just after 10.30am at the Caboolture airfield yesterday.

David Maddern was a retired commercial pilot who was going for a flight with his wife on a clear winter's day.

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Initial investigations indicate their plane was taking off when it collided with a Piper PA-25 Pawnee, which is generally used for agricultural spraying.

The pilot of the second plane survived the crash "relatively uninjured", with that aircraft sustaining damage to the left wing.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will carry out an investigation into the crash, with officials arriving from Canberra today.

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Queensland Police Superintendent Paul Ready said yesterday officers were determining who was onboard the two aircraft.

"It occurred low to the ground at the eastern end of the airfield," he said.

Ready said the two people that died were in an aircraft that was taking off at the eastern end of the airfield.

The pilot in the second aircraft was assisting police with the investigation.

Ready said it was incredibly lucky the pilot in the second aircraft survived "when you look at the damage on the ground".

Images from the scene show the wreckage of a light aircraft on the airfield and another aircraft with damage to the wing.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will carry out an investigation into the crash.

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