Disappearance of Frederick Valentich
On 21 October 1978, at approximately 18:19, pilot Frederick Valentich departed from Moorabbin Airport, Victoria, in a Cessna 182L (registration VH-DSJ) for a planned flight to King Island. The trip was to be conducted under night VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions), for which Valentich was licensed.
| Disappearance of Frederick Valentich | ||
 | ||
| Date | 21 October 1978 | |
| summary | Aircraft disappearance; reported sighting of unidentified object | |
| site | Bass Strait, near Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia | |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 182L | |
| Tail number | VH-DSJ | |
| Origin | Moorabbin Airport, Victoria | |
| destination | King Island, Tasmania | |
| occupants | 1 | |
| Passengers | 0 | |
| Crew | 1 | |
| fatalities | 1 (presumed) | |
| survivors | 0 | |
| missing | 1 | |
| Operator | Private flight | |
| pilot | Frederick Valentich | |
He had filed a flight plan, with an outbound journey of around 69 minutes at less than 5,000 feet via Cape Otway, and a return along the same route. The aircraft had been refuelled to full capacity, giving an endurance of about five hours.[1]
At 19:00, Valentich reported to Melbourne Flight Service that he had reached Cape Otway. Six minutes later, he radioed to ask if there was any known traffic below 5,000 feet. He then began describing an unidentified object he believed was flying above and around his aircraft. Over the next several minutes, Valentich stated that the object was long in shape, metallic and shiny, with a green light, and at times appeared to hover.
He reported that it moved unusually fast and circled above him. When asked his intentions, Valentich said he was continuing to King Island, but added, "that strange aircraft is hovering on top of me again … it’s not an aircraft." His final transmission at 19:12 was followed by 17 seconds of open microphone noise, after which contact was lost.[2]
Search and rescue was initiated shortly after radio contact ceased. Despite extensive air, sea, and land operations continuing until 25 October 1978, no trace of the aircraft was initially located.[3]
Explanations and Theories
The disappearance has given rise to many theories, none of which have been proven. Some suggested Valentich staged his own disappearance, while others believed he may have become disoriented, possibly flying inverted and mistaking the reflection of his own lights on the water for another craft. Another hypothesis was that the plane may have entered a spiral descent, which could account for the reported engine problems.
Valentich was known to have had a strong interest in UFOs, and this led some researchers to propose that he was abducted or attacked by an unidentified craft. Reports of unusual aerial lights in the region were also received at the time.[4]
References
- Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society, ''Mysteries of Aviation – Frederick Valentich and VH-DSJ'', Report No. 2020.0002.0, July 2020.
- Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society, ''Mysteries of Aviation – Frederick Valentich and VH-DSJ'', Report No. 2020.0002.0, July 2020.
- Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society, ''Mysteries of Aviation – Frederick Valentich and VH-DSJ'', Report No. 2020.0002.0, July 2020.
- Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society, ''Mysteries of Aviation – Frederick Valentich and VH-DSJ'', Report No. 2020.0002.0, July 2020.
