Tragic twist after pilot Greig Wanless and mother Kate Callingham were killed in light plane crash at Mount Beauty Airport, Victoria

A man and a woman killed in a light plane crash were on their way to scatter the ashes of a loved one when they died.

Pilot Greig Wanless, 67, and respected arts identity Kate Callingham, 39, died after their light plane crashed at Mount Beauty Airport, in Victoria's east, on Saturday.

Mr Wanless' wife said the pair were flying to scatter the ashes of Max Cunningham - Ms Callingham's father and Mr Wanless' best mate.

'He did a beautiful memorial before he went up,' Karen Wanless told the Herald Sun.

'He died doing the two things he loved, flying and helping people.'

Ms Wanless described her husband as an 'amazing' builder, CFA firefighter, gliding instructor, teacher, father, husband and 'friend right to the end'.

Mr Wanless had 40 years of flight experience and was an active member of the Yarrambat community, in Melbourne's north.

He was a former teacher at Ivanhoe Grammar School and ran a scholarship program for students interested in becoming pilots.

Mr Wanless leaves behind 'three beautiful kids' who are 'absolutely devastated' by his sudden death. 

Ms Callingham was the mother of a five-and-a-half month old baby and worked for the City of Casey and the City of Melbourne in arts management.

In a statement on Saturday, her grieving family described her as a 'beloved mother, daughter and friend, and a keen-minded leader in the arts and cultural life in Melbourne'.

'She was widely respected and beloved for her clear moral compass, adventurous spirit and formidable, level-headed, good sense,' they said.

'Kate was loved for her kindness, easy laughter and always being the most capable person in the room.'

Ms Callingham formerly worked as a board member at The Lifted Brow literary journal, consultant for The Stella Prize literary awards and co-chief executive of the Emerging Writers' Festival.

Victoria Police believe the light aircraft was flying over Embankment Dr when is crashed at 1.45pm.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane seemingly struggle to land before it smashed into a paddock, just in front of the runway.

Emergency services worked to save the pair but both died at the scene. 

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.