The wife of the pilot who died in a fiery crash at a Melbourne airport is "really struggling", her sister says.
Max Quartermain died when the plane he was flying crashed into the Essendon airport DFO shortly after take-off on Tuesday morning.
His sister-in-law Irene Gould said the past day had been an "incredibly sad time" for her sister Cilla Quartermain and their children.
"Please pray for Cilla and the children that they will find some comfort and peace in this horrific situation," Ms Gould posted on Facebook on Wednesday.
"Cilla is really struggling. Good bye Max, you were a very special man and a brilliant pilot."
Australian Corporate Jets chief executive Bas Nikolovski said the 63-year-old Mr Quartermain was "one of the most experienced pilots'" and he was shocked when he heard about the crash.
"Every aspect of my body had goosebumps" Mr Nikolovski told AAP.
Steve Atto, who had flown with Mr Quartermain, said on Facebook that he was a "diligent pilot" and "we all trusted and enjoyed his company".
The Quartermains owned Corporate and Leisure Aviation, operating the business from their Rye home on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
The now-offline website for the business said Quartermain was the holder and operator of an Air Operations Certificate for more than 38 years and had an "impeccable safety record".
He'd previously operated private charter company Seidler Aviation.
A Seidler aircraft was involved in a "unsafe" near miss at Mount Hotham in September 2015, where an Essendon-based plane came within 100 metres of another plane.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is still investigating the incident, and bureau chief commissioner Greg Hood would not comment on Mr Quartermain's involvement.
Mr Quartermain also drove on a casual basis for Buddy's Bus Service and was "held in high regard by fellow workers and customers alike", the company said.
Peninsula Dog Walkers Association president Trevor Robinson said Mr Quartermain was "an incredible man".
"We most certainly will never be able to replace you Max, you will be so dearly missed," he posted online.
Mr Quartermain was an active member of local conservation groups, and owned a boat shed on the Mornington Peninsula.
