Parents of Queensland pilot who died in remote crash remember son

The family of a Queensland pilot who died after crashing his homemade light plane on Saturday say they’re extremely proud of him, despite the tragedy.

Queensland authorities have confirmed a body found this afternoon near the town of Woolooga, about 39 kilometres north-west of Gympie, was that of 60-year-old Rob Pavan.

Mr Pavan, an avid amateur pilot, disappeared on Saturday morning after leaving Gympie Airstrip in his scratch-build Jabiru twin-seater.

He was reported missing after failing to show at a wedding that evening and authorities launched a major air and ground search for him.

A farmer stumbled across the wreckage of Mr Pavan's plane yesterday evening and police spent much of today combing the dense bushland for his body.

Twenty-five officers, including specialists from the Disaster Identification Unit, scoured the scrub for much of the day and discovered Mr Pavan's body about 2pm.

Mr Pavan regularly flew with his father, Tony.

"We don’t have a heart full of sorrow, we’re just so proud – that's the way we're going to think of him," Tony said.

While family and friends are still coming to terms with the tragedy, Mr Pavan said he believed his son didn’t die as a result of mechanical issues or pilot error.

“Robert is a very careful pilot,” he said.

“I think he blacked out.”

An AMSA spokesman yesterday said the plane appeared to have crashed into the ground at high speed, making Mr Pavan’s chances of survival highly unlikely.

Mr Pavan did not issue a mayday call before the crash and his personal locator beacon had not been switched on.

Friends said Mr Pavan was an experienced pilot and had recently completed a flight around Australia.

AMSA is now investigating what caused the crash and police are still trying to retrieve all of the wreckage, including the plane’s engine and instrument panel.