'Fun-loving' married couple among three dead in light plane crash south of Sydney

A married couple and their friend have been killed when their light plane crashed south of Sydney.

Owner Andrew Connors, his wife Julieanne and family-friend Colin McLachlan were bound for Bathurst when the Piper Cherokee Lance aircraft they were travelling in crashed at Shellharbour Airport.

The plane took off just before 10am and was in the air for a few seconds before the aircraft tilted onto one wing and crashed.

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The plane burst into flames on impact.

NSW Fire and Rescue crews who were doing a training exercise nearby were suddenly faced with a real-life scenario.

"There was nothing anybody could have done for the occupants of the aeroplane," Andrew Barber said.

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"It did disintegrate upon impact with the ground, one wing came off completely."

Mr and Mrs Connors, who have been described by a friend as fun-loving, were on their way to race weekend with McLachlan.

Mr Connors was known in the community for his company Connors Buildings.

The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau is investigating the crash.

NSW Police chief inspector Aaron Wunderlich said the crash happened in front of up to 15 witnesses, including fire crews and visitors at the nearby HARS Aviation Museum.

Wunderlich thanked emergency services for their work at the scene of the tragic accident.

"They did a fantastic job of what was really a horrific scene," he said.

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