TWO people are dead after a vintage plane clipped trees and exploded in a fireball at an airstrip in central Victoria yesterday.
Mr Fisher had two daughters and lived with his wife on their vineyard in Harcourt, the Herald Sun reports.
It is understood the Tiger Moth was taking off from Maryborough airport just after 5pm.
Witnesses told of seeing a "ball of flames" moments before the plane crashed.
The burning aircraft caused a grassfire. Seven Country Fire Authority crews were required to bring it under control.
Angie Clarke, a Maryborough Aero Club member and friend of the two men, said John Fisher and David Oxley were members of the club. Both were aged in their 60s and married.
He once had flown the same Tiger Moth from England to Australia.Ms Clarke said she believed Mr Fisher was flying the Tiger Moth when it went down in bush near the runway about 5.15pm.
"It's absolutely tragic," Ms Clarke said.
"He was such a fantastic man, really. He just loved planes and anything to do with planes. He had the energy, the curiosity and the interest."
Ms Clarke said Mr Fisher worked at the airstrip on Fridays and Saturdays.
"He always took someone flying with him who wanted to go flying with him and it just happened to be Dave," Ms Clarke said.
"Everyone wanted to go up with him. If I were here, I would have gone up."
