Police were alerted to the crash in Pioneer Valley on Saturday morning after a member of the public heard a loud explosion.

The RACQ rescue helicopter spotted the wreckage later that morning and a crew member was winched down into the mountainous terrain but found no one had survived.

A 73-year-old man and his 75-year-old wife were believed to be in the aircraft, police said.

The recovery of the couple was postponed on Monday due to the weather but is set to resume on Tuesday, depending on wind conditions.

The plane had taken off from Townsville and was bound for Mackay, where the couple were locals.

Their deaths have prompted an outpouring of tributes and condolences on social media.

"My parents ... have been involved in a plane crash west of Mackay, it doesn't look good and it doesn't look like there are going to be survivors," their son posted on Facebook.

He later wrote: "it has been confirmed by QLD police that both of my parents have passed away in the accident".

Police said the family had told officers that the 73-year-old man owned the plane and had 30 years' flying experience.

Police had warned the recovery would be complex, with crews to be winched into difficult terrain that could not be accessed by road or foot.

The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau have begun an investigation into the cause of the SOCATA TB20 Trinidad single-engine plane crash, travelling to the site on Sunday.

Australian Associated Press