THIS FILE CONTAINS PAGES REPRODUCED FROM A BADLY FADED OR ILLEGIBLE SOURCE. SCANNING THE PAGES AT A HIGHER RESOLUTION WILL NOT IMPROVE THEIR LEGIBILITY. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT Pl!R \ liO Cl I rt l~ClPI N I OPI Refer.r ,., If Oat CCJ..OAOINA liON! ~IP.SNAME -~ AUTHO ~TIES 1, OL V ED-_ O,..Hr n CO)-"CIS rt ~ttl. P . No DESCRIPTION OF VESSEL LENGTH TONNAGE -,SP-EED CO\..OUR~ HVL~ ---=~-DECK SUPERSTRUCIURE=--- FUNNEL/SAILS _ HULL MATERIAL~---~--.---- ENC31~le iYf'E----=-----FUEL SAFETY AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT til "tES'. 111$ 11 cl et<uls) ANCHOR :VESINO IF E:SIJO:V .S EPIRS YES -1Q 0 1 lot-IV VESJNO_ FOOD t.IFE.JACKSrS VESINO YES/ ..JO FA.BJS PERSONS OH BOARC Age VOYACE DO AilS DEPI\R11:0 DESTINA'TION INTERMEOIA TE f'ORTS AND "TIMES ----------------------"'--- CONTACTS MARSAR NO. 78/1205. NARRATIVE: LIGUT AIRCRAFT OVERDUE AT KING ISLAND. 1 . Airways Oper a t i o n s Me lbourne adviaed that a Di s t res phaso had baP.n initia t~d on a Cessna .82 o ve rdue at Ki ng Island on a fligh t t r o'll M.oorabbin t o King Island. The airc r aft had retJot:tetl a r o ug h runnin~ e ngine prior to communications being lost. -. .n urgenCi' mcasuge ~1as paslih~\.0 -:() VI.1 for inC) s1ght1.n; 3nd heatin~ r:~ports. .USRF.P we \'e!isei .lJ\. Y Hf::l \'d/'1 n: \~ds thouyht t<.i be in IuS a~keti to ~:ont.,.ct tht. V(;nsal. trd nsmissi o n request- the v~cinity. VIM :, , .,Ot; 1t:L,.., viecl th:l .... t.h-!in:rr.f1: wJ probabl.r o:c1:lana whUfl 1:ha tro u bl e began . Nancy Leth 'tiO.S not e-nployed a t t his ";;tl:i.:i-= und 1 th.! o i ccraft ' s pooi tion could b e oonfi.r:med. 4 . Ei g h t vessels answered the X.XY. memnl)c !.>.1t orly N3ncy Heath was -u an imrn iatoly useful posit~on. Pour of thJ3~ vessels wer e eased immediate l t bu~ t he ot c r s were not a s they coul d enter the area l ater "Nancy He~th" which had ~fferc1 'o a iat was cequcst~d to p roceod down the .. ircraft' s intended t r acK to 5 mile f rom Cat:le Wicl:h!Hh Light and if nothing sighted t o resu :t~ it~ soc A L sni a th~ aircrai~ r~i~rted seeing thing s (parhap s a UFO) shortly af t e r departing Cap(: Ot.~ay at 0903Z ""d requested all ,o~ork o u t the d rift about the northE'rt'l tip of l~ing Islanrl. ACSC advised thclt no r mally only the sea curre n t give n a s 5t\C work out the rest . Aa SOC seeme d unsure of procedures ACSC agreed to p rovide Seacurrent a n J wind current c alcula t1.ons after c l a ritying \otit h the soc. rh(> tar:~et, the eslinat-.cd op'...asi1 L~oi..n t, the wind velocity a nd the proposed search datum t ime. Thin anua~al i?COCt!Jur~ .-.ac ext: ... a 1ned latcL thll SOC an\.1 .no th,'.lgh t ACSC bad a c ompute.:: t. hat. f?rovideJ a l l _hnce a nG\ole:D! t SvC ALso r.'!qucated ACSC to a s k local fishi ng boa':s fot: sighting/hearing r.er>-:>rts. ... ~; c r<ty fi~h rna,n, .tr \Jraham lJliver :lavisf:!cl tha t befor e h .J J fincol.-:y u.:pan.~IJ tl'.:! !;;UuJ'-'Ct:. ~!Cc.l tne d a y 7 ~h~ xxx roedsage was s uspended overnighl us it h<.t<.i be~n sufflclently promulgated. 8 . SOC AMML amended the splah point by 22 miles at 2114189 . Advised h i m to use a Sea c t / i ~ a t 2l 2000 Z. urre n w nd current sector of 100/6 NM The urgency message was reinstated at fir : t sK~u~. 11. "Nancy Heath" oeported a negative result to her search anu a strong eaterly drift in tho area. 12. An Orion aircraft and crayfish boats from King Island corlll'il<!ncea a eat chir,g at f il. at light. Search vessels were r~quested to searrh for a survivor o r wreckage on a orift line of 100 degrees from nolaahpoint. C J >J ~ 1HO JJ!t~tl a vll slick i n pooit1on 3<Poz 1-14041' a:1d a c...a ~t 01 RTG/R.fF seokir1g vesaelf' abll' to detain a 14. i1a J.shir,g s:. .1 ~m.<I\Dj .12 ... rcnt<Jincd in thr 'osition of the 0.11 sl i.e!\ \lhiC":h appt~a r"-'...1 t'..> c.. :.>lole f rot.t a otalton lCY source. 1'.). {r;c MU.1L L2-JUested sub-atine <..ri.Zt. l'h.&.o int:o::mation was provided f rom ~any sources but the lndiodtion waa that ther e woLl o be no net flow throuqh uaas Ctrait 1n ~he ~r~vailinJ we ... t.her ...:ondi._.i.v!'l&. 16. A number of reports o f a fast mov1n9 brillianc white l1yat wete received fror., Jar ious tlilr tz o.t ~1\e country. ric St.comlo uo~crv~to~y aovis~u that the n l ht of tho 21st ~as the p~ak o f t he neteorite st=eam wi~n 10-15 s1ghtings per houL obie.-~. 17. .. ~.e ;omad" collected an oil aample und cooperated with the O~lon in lnves~1gating its contactn. 18. thh J.cgencL mssagc was cancellea at 232326Z but the air a~arch continued. 19. A ~u re~ue~t1n9 vessels t o recover if ~oss1b~e two ObJects ~ff Apollo Bay was broadca~t at 240445Z. 20. A SURPIC tor the araa for ~40700Z was p roviuQJ. 21. At 250900: th~ ~<!'"'rcn or. the aitc1 .1. was t<lr t.i nated with no a i J"ltl \~..> o .... aucr.:1ft, \llreck3ge oc body made despite intensive -..earch in a small area. 22. As a postecript to thl& mystery, wr kdye wds reported off Lakes Entranc~, checked by police out was not relcva. _ '-O this search. The pilot' s father believed that a UFO had taken his s o n and would re him later. The accident recelveJ ~ide newspaper and television cover because of the UFO connection. 23. Incident closed. A. S. (~inance Branch) MARSAR 78/1 aQ~ Bess Strait Search !or Missing Aircraft - Charter of Fishing Vessels. Three Treasury Voucher s are hereby forwarded for payment. The Vouchers are !or the charter of three fishing vessels, the HELEN D, BALAMARA and NAUTILUS 1 The vessels carried out a surface search !or the missing aircraft 1n the Bass Strait area on 22 October 1978. The charter was authorised by the Australian Coastal Surveillance Centre end it is requested that ~ppropriete accounting and payment action be taken. (Y.M enteld) for FAS (CSD) AUSTRALIAN DEPARTl'fE'rli'T OF TRANSPORT ~lARI.XE OPERATIONS CE~TRE AUSTRALIAN SHIP REPORTI~G SYSTEl'f A~D SAR ORGA~ISATIOf\ QUESTlOl'<:\AIRE OF S HIPS PARTICUL.\RS Year Built li' n:tme chanped previou!i name and call s~gn GROSS TO~NAGE ------------LEKGTB TYPE OF VESSEL ------------- Nl-lBEH OF CREW NUl'fBER OF PASSEXGERS (IF ANY) DR. CARRIE!l NAJOR LIFB SAVING EQUIPJ'.1ENT NU1'1BER OF LIFEBOATS NUMBER Or' MOTORISED LIFEBOATS NUMB~H AND CAPACITY OF INFLATABLE LIFE RAFTS X MAN X MAN, RADIO EQUIPME~'T W/ T Mn.Ln Transmitter Freq. {)f/ F & H 'F) W/ T Reserve/Emergency TX Frcq. R / T r-tain Transmitter Freq VHF Chauncl 16 R/'r Emergency Transmi ttct' Freq. Llfcboat/Lif'e raf't Transmitter Freqo Radio 'Watch Keeping Hours MAIN AUST~\LIAN ~GENTS DO YOU RECEIVE COPIES OF NAVAUS 1'1ESSAGES YES/NO* DO YOU E~CEIVE WEAPO~S PRACTICES NOTICES Y~S/NO~ DO YOU HOLD ON BOARD ANNUAL Sillfl'lARY OF AUSTRALIAN NOTICES TO l'fARINERS S1.gned Na~te1 Dclote whichever not applicable. A. S. (F~ce Branch) Bass Strait Search for Missing Aircraft - Chqrter of Fishing Vessels. Three Treasury Vouchers are hereby forwarded for payment. The Vouchers are for the charter of three fishing vessels, the HELEN D, BAL.~ and NAUTILUS 1 . The vessels carried out a surface search for the missing aircraft in the Bass Strait area on 22 October 1978. 2 . The charter was authorised by the Australian Coastal Surveillance Centre and it is requested that appropriate accounting and payment action be taken. (W . M. Blumenf).d) for FAS (CSD) TELEI>I ~ E .Jt. I I 01 G.P 0 09 JOij C Our Reftreoet-AV 63/78. HOBART 7001 l:IRP: GJB FOA (NOUIAif:S CONTACt Mr. David Simmonds, Australian Coastal Surveillance Centre, Department of Transport, CANBE~. 2601 Bass Stra1 t Search for Missing COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE 80 ELIZABETH STREET 4th Januar,y, 1979. Attached for Your inforMation and attention are three Treasury Vouchers for a combined cost of $1, 838. 45. The costs ere incurred during a search for a Cesena aircrart Piloted ~ Frederick Valeatich hieb ent aiaeing on a flight roo MOorabbin, Victoria to King Island oa the 21et October, Statements are also enclosed b,y the pereons who undertook the search folloiag a telephone Call from your offioe at approXimately 9. 00 p.m. on SatU<dO, the 21et October, 1978 TEI..EPiiONE 38 1101 1-foaA toor IICR. L.\f FOR ENQUIRIES CON 1.<\CT COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE 80 El1ZA8EiH STREET The Deputy Commissioner of Police, 21st December, 1978 Search Carried out for Missing Aircraft Tioe three ttached Treasury Vouchers for a combined cost of $1,838.45 is forwarded for Your information and consideration Please in transmitting the file to t/oe Australian Coastal Surveillance Centro for consideration of having the vouchers paid for. The costs were incurred during a search for a Cessna aircraft Piloted by Frederick VaJentich Which went missing on a flight from Noorabbin, Victoria to King Island on 21st October, 1978, To date, no evidence has been obtained indicate what happened to the Plane or Pilot during the flight mentioned. (H. C. Rainbird) ASSISTAI\T 0MMISSION.EH OF POLICE (bPERATIONS) eollllllissioner of J'olice, TASNJ.<\1\11.<\ I:JOLICs vUpe 'lntendent ' s Office, llorth est 10, 1ijtll uecelllber, 19/o. u .c:! n C til,, S"U!iJ[jC ! ~,d/,jr ted :Je,: lei lJnu. 1 -0 ru111 ln.; coo~. ?CO. on Jo,J::J or c ttch. Jrn. on DVeJI,n I; i onnr] ''OFJt l I,; tie I Ltr:l. Occupation OLIVER Orahcm JSbn S~trnatne (in ~pi~) P. o. BOX 237, Currie, Kine Island. s,.,.,_ At nbout 9 pa on Saturday the 2! at of October 1978, I Rccehed a hne call Fr m l'orine Ope;r tiona, CAllllllJUlA, I was requested to orsani 2e some l.>oats to oatry out a sea reacua. search North of Capo Wickham, Xing lalarid for a missing Light Aircraft. I then or ganized three ot the largest boats on the Island one of Which is my o.,n to collll!:enee a sea ses1ch early on the morning of Sundoy the 22nd of October 097. I also received a second Fhome c ll on the 2lot of October J'ro,. l.!elbourne conJ.'il'ming that the basta would ue required ~or the search. At 5.Jo am on tho mornig o Sunday tho 22nd or October 1978 I;el..XhJeurrie !l;,rbour in l.:y boat the l!llLE!! D together with Hugh ::....,'t!!fl on tho NAUftrtrs 1 and John liENDEJlso 1 on the BAL.AQ.ut( and travelled to the North Western tip of Xing Island and tor the next ~3 hours we carried out a search of tho OUrrounding area for the m1ssj,n8 .Plane. There l?ere two .Persons on my vessel Daniel Scott my declc - hand and myself. I woul~ eaticste that the 7eoaol u~ed epp:ro~imotely 180 litras ot diesel fuel durang the course ot the search, I WOuld nlao estimate a <oae ~or a bag o! Crays Yelued at about 300 dollors, other costs incurred ~ere t of ~ deckhand Wh6mb I .Paid the eum of 100 dollOrs for the days search. Ale~ I estimated my cost and other XUllning expenses to be about 20 dollaru .Per hour. Arter co~plet~ thorough ocarcb ot the areas directed to us by Uelbouxne radio wa all re~ed to Currie hnrhour Just aa darkneao was !alllng it >es P .. l.'DOdJnately 6 . 30 pm, 4tb ot Dcc ber 1978. Statement taken at Currie ~lice Station at 4 po on Monday the ( I.R . .DAVISo) 1/.C Oo.natable. ;ro. 1049 lnet~ct,on re/lardfn~r Pannent It deited ~e rn 6/ock 4ett~) Dc,.,.ltt.,~N.,.~ Us~; ONLY. eterenc:e No. or Ledger A le. ctulPment I.n~e ~ .Rende~d CaJ~tloos, Addfttone A VaJIIlbJe a & lJellty 3eo" doiJar, Occupation Fost 0C.Cice, Curt:ie, ltint> IolaM, Statement taken Ot ~Urr1e ~Olice Stu~ion on Uoay the 4th. oc December 7B. at ?m. ( ' . R.DA~ls.) 1/c Jollstable. No. 10~9 Occupation Surname (in capitals) Christian Names Uox 130, CUrrie, Ki11e Islttnd .. ~-t 5.30 am on the morning of Sunde,y the 22nd of Octobe 1 :.ll> r left Currie I! rbour in my boat the AllTLtBS1 to asa:l.8t in a sea rescue search North West o! Kine Island for a mieeins uircaft. ~here.\7ere two other boats \'ti'th me n the search ~hey were Cruham Olivera liBLEli D and Jo'tn Hendersona BA~. rhere were only two persons on my vessel Rayoond llOllLfllC my <1eckhand and myself, I would estimate the ve-el used ubout 263 litres of <leiseil fuel during the 13 h'our search. I ~ould uloo 'Eaetinate a losa of i bng of Crays during the day s I ''' nble to work a few of my pots on the retu.rn tdp troll the search ,, . ,, I also incurred a coot tor ny deck.,~nd ot 100 dollars for tlJo da.rs Search nd also pereonal and sundry expenses ot: ubo~:t 22, 50 ~et Atter completing a complete search of the directed araaa I in co~pan.y with he other two boato l'cturn to OurJie harbour at approxlloately 6 , 30pm, I did not follow the other two boats all the way to t)le harbou:t; 'bt.tt stopped to p~ck up some Pqte north o:r Currie. Statement taken at ( T.fLDAVIS.) 1/C Constable. No. 1049. STATE OF TASMANIA Taus~,;av \'ouctt< N tl !lu h DO' rLI (Nome m bl~k /etta) l hereby 11uthoru:e the Treaauru to pay the amoun~ of this Clatm to (Nome a"d full ,oatal add1ual- imant'a Speci&l Inatruet~n r~gardtnlt Payment if desired. FIN ANC{AL YEAR. D&rAIITM!:HT.U. Us. ONLY. Mmisur'a General Authority Dated Stores Order No. Rt!trenu ~o. or Led~rer A l e. Goocb Received Recorded on Plant or Equipment Inventory Servl~ Rendered atu, Calculaliona, Addi tions O.pt1 Ledrer Date of Supply, or Period '7>11 Service, HUD OP SDYJCL p .uTICI1L.Utll geil'Jel fuel lu..;.es o" .f.:.n-:~onal md SUl1dry eartH ~stim:.1tc l ounting to EunJ L'CU and -:i.._.ht y One do !Jars n .. y r.ti v~.;. CTIIIt. TRASUltY. tCrrtfvrtg 0/fktr or Head of Dtpartme11t) (Signaturr of Claimant) MARINE OPERATIO TELEPHONE MESSAGE AUTHORI T Y CO ORO 14A TOR MARINE OPERATIONS CENTRE TELEPHONE MESSAGE AUTHORITY ,.. MARSAR NO. '?P/1VJ") CO-OR 01 NA TOR