etlt-17 /r 7 OF TRANSPORT Referred to Date Folio Referred to FILE NUMBER Date Folio Referred to /Related Files Shown ln r.ide Date1-----t Relat~!d ~iles FILE DIVISION NOTICE The large number of papers processed in relation to the subject of this file has necessitated a division of the original file at this point. Earlier papers are held on the following parts. Date Opened fl.. 8 --lrt~IWI fl COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA ff not dellvwed whhln 7 days, return to DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT Vt.c/ff1S ~E"qtoN R E Po f'T~:S 4 to Fro-q ({o, (ff d H'L ~ COMMONWULllt Of AUOTOAUA OEMOTMENT Of TO ....... T AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SUMMARY Pvll.lrc:.,left of thle report h ..,tt.orlee4 t.., the Secretory under tho profal.,u of Au Holeotton Rogvlotiona 213 ( 1) LOCA TIOH OF OCCURRENCE THE AIRCRAFT Cessna 182L C.,.;lkalo of be~tlral-11ued 10 Cephus Day, 33 Reserve Road, Beaumauris, Dofoctt 4t covoro4 3. THE FLIGHT Lost or entondod 4oportloH'o potnt T of ilo,ortvto 1819 hours Frederick VALENT! CH T1-(Locell I Ctificalo of AorwOtlhinou VH-DSJ Valid from 1 4 February 1968 er f 41eMel te ehcreh SAS Southern Air Services, Not known Northern Avenue, 0 tho f'<Oporty ..... ogod Moorabbin Airport. Victoria Moat ,.,,., of intonclo4 lonilnt P~Hpo .. ol flogh Cloea of o,_roho" King Isiand Cion ol licence 20 Private Hovu on tyl" Totol ho01<o Dee of '"I"'Y Presumed Fatal (All ,.uongera oncl ,.raona lnlurocl on ground) DotrM of nivr RELEVAHT EVEHTS The pilot obtained a Class Four instrument rating on 11 May 197ti an he was therefore authorised of 21 October 197S he attended ours, submitted a flight plan altitude nominated in the flight to operate at night in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). On the afternoon the Moorabbin Briefing Office, obtained a meteorological briefing and, at 1723 h for a night VMC flight from Moorabbin to King Island and return. The cruising plan was below 5000 feet, with estimated time intervals of 41 minutes to Cape Otway and 28 minutes from Cape Otway to King Island. The total fuel endurance was shown as 300 minutes. ments for aerodrome lighting to be illuminated for his arrival at King Island. H and the operator's representative that he was uplifting friends at King Island and aircraft with him. The aircraft was refuelled to capacity at 1810 hours and departed M The pilot made no arrange- a advised the briefing officer took four life jackets in the oorlibbin at 1819 hours. After light Service Unit (FSU). departure the pilot established two-way radio communications with Melbourne F The pilot reported Cape Otway at 1900 hours and the next transmiss was at 1906:14 hours. ion received from the aircraft Mel bourne FSU were recorded The following communications bet ween the ai rcr:t t and from this time: (Note: The word/words in brackets are open to other interpreta TIME FROM TEXT MELBOURNE this is DELTA SIERRA J is there any known traffic below five thousand DELTA SIERRA JULIET no known tratfic DELTA ~IERRA .;J'ULIET I am seems (to) be a large aircraft below five thousand 6. RELEVANT EVENTS (cont'd) :50 VH-DSJ :32 VH-DSJ :47 VH-DSJ :49 VH-DSJ :14 VH-DSJ :20 VH-DSJ D D DELTA SIERRA JULIET what type of aircraft is it DELTA SIERRA JULIET I cannot affirm it is four bright it seems to me like landing lights DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE this (is) DELTA SIERRA JULIET the aircraft has just passed over over me at least a thousand feet above DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger and it it is a large aircraft confirm er unknown due to the speed it's travelling is there any airforce aircraft in the DELTA SIERRA JULIET no known aircraft in the vicinity MELBOURNE it's approaching now from due east towards me DELTA SIERRA JULIET I I open microphone for two seconds I I DELTA SIERRA JULIET it seems to me that he's playing some sort of game he's flying over me two three times at a time at speeds I could not identify DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger what is your actual level my level is four and a half thousand four five zero zero DELTA SIERRA JULIET and confirm you cannot identify the aircraft affirmative DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger standby MELBOURNE DELTA SIERRA JULIET it's not an aircraft it is I I open microphone for two seconds I I DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE can y ou describe the er aircraft DELTA SIERRA JULIET as it' s flying past it's a long shape I I open microphone for three seconds II (cannot) identify more than (that it has such speed) I I open microphone for 3 seconds I I before me right now Melbourne DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger and how large would the er object be DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE it seems like it's stationary what I'm doing right now is orbiting and the thing is just orbiting on top of me also it's got a green light and sort of metallic (like) it's all shiny (on) the outside DELTA SIERRA JULIET 6. RELEVANT EVENTS (cont'd) DELTA SIERRA JULIET II open microphone for 5 seconds II it's just vanished DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE would you know what kind of aircraft I've got is it (a type) military DELTA SIERRA JULIET confirm the er aircraft just vanished DELTA SIERRA JULIET is the aircraft still with you DELTA SIERRA JULIET (it's ah nor) II open microphone 2 seconds II (now) approaching from the southwest DELTA SIERRA JULIET DELTA SIERRA JULIET the engine is is rough idling I've got it set at twenty three twenty four and the thing is (coughing) DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger what are your intentions my intentions are ah to go to King Island ah Melbourne that strange aircraft is hovering on top of me again II two seconds open microphone I I it is hovering and it' s not an aircraft DELTA SIERRA JULIET DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE II 17 seconds open microphone II DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE There is no record of any further transmissions from the aircraft. The weather in the Cape Otway area was clear with a trace of stratocumulus cloud at 5000 to 7000 feet, scattered cirrus cloud at 30000 feet, excellent visibility and light winds. The e nd of daylight at Cape Otway was at 1918hours. The Alert Phase of SAR procedures was declared at 1912 hours and, at 1933 hours when the aircraft did not arrive at King Island, the Distress Phase was declared and search action was commenced. An intensive air, sea and land search was continued until 25 October 1978, but no trace of the aircraft was found. 7. OPINION AS TO CAUSE The reason for the disappearance of the aircraft has not been determined. (A. R. Woodward) Delegate of the Secretory * COMMONWULTH Of A-UA O< .. OTMENT Of TOAN--T AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SUMMARY Pvl.hcetion o f thl a roport Ia euthotltocl b t tho S.crotory un4or tho 'rovh1ona of Alt Hovlgoton Aogul otiona 213 (1} 1. LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE T 1-( Locell Not known EST THE AIRCRAFT Reeiatreti" I CtofKolo of Aotwe><lh lftOII Cessna 182L VH-DSJ Valid from 14 February 1968 c-tk o to of l.egottrol-iu-.1 lo Doeroo of 4"'1 to oltc ro ft Cephus Day, SAS Southern Air Services, Not k nown 33 Reserve Road, Northern Avenue, Other properly cloMotocl Beaumauris, Moor abbin Airport. Victoria Oo fo cta -'tcoorotll THE FLIGHT Loat or tntondod dopor t w o ItO'"' T i"' of .,.,.,,"'. Hot poiftl ol lfttoroclocl lo"cl'"l P urpoto of fltght Cloat of o..-rotton Moorabbin 1819 hours King Island Travel No-Stohl I Clou ol llcoftco Hour t o n ty,. Totol houn D oeroo of "'I'"Y F rederick VALENT! CH Pilot 20 Presumed Fatal known (Approx.) OTHER PERSONS (All peuollgett ettd pertOIII Injured 011 grou11d) o.,,_ o f lniu t )' RELEVANT EVENTS The pilot obtained a Class Four instrument rating on 11 May 197!:! and he was therefore authorised to operate at night in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). On the afternoon of 21 October 197 8 he attended the Moorabbin Briefing Office, obtained a meteorological briefing and, at 1723 hours, submitted a flight plan for a night VMC flight from Moorabbin to King Island and return. The cruising altitude nominated in the flight plan was below 5000 feet, with estimated time intervals of 41 minutes to Cape Otway and 28 minutes from Cape Otway to King Island. The total fuel endurance was shown as 300 minutes. The pilot made no arrange- ments for aerodrome lighting to be illuminated for his arrival at King Island. advised the briefing officer and the operator's representative that he was uplifting friends at King Island and took four life jackets in t he aircraft wit h him. The aircraft was refuelled to capacity at 1810 hours and departed Moorlibbin at 1819 hours. departure the pilot establi shed two-way radio communications with Melbo_urne Flight Service Unit (FSU). The pilot reported Cape Otway at 1900 hours and the next transmission received from the airc!'aft was at 1906:14 hours. The following communications bet ween the ai rcrti t and Mel bourne FSU were recorded from this time: (Note: The word/words in brackets are open to other interpretations. ) MELBOURNE this is DELTA SIERRA JULIET is there any known traffic below five thousand DELTA SIERRA JULIET no known traffic :26 VH-DSJ DELTA ~IERRA JULIET I am seems (to) be a large aircraft below five thousand 6. RELEVANT EVENTS (cont'd) :32 VH-DSJ :47 VH-DSJ :49 VH-DSJ :14 VH-DSJ :28 VH-DSJ :20 VH-DSJ D D DELTA SIERRA JULIET what type of aircraft is it DELTA SIERRA JULIET I cannot affirm it is four bright it seems to me like landing lights DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE this (is) DELTA SIERRA JULIET the aircraft has just passed over me at least a thousand feet above DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger and it it is a large aircraft confirm er unknown due to the speed it's travelling is there any airforce aircraft in the DELTA SIERRA JULIET no known aircraft in the vicinity MELBOURNE it's approaching now from due east towards me DELTA SIERRA JULIET I I open microphone for two seconds I I DELTA SIERRA JULIET it seems to me that he's playing some sort of game he's flying over me two three times at a time at speeds I could not identify DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger what is your actual level my level is four and a half thousand four five zero zero DELTA SIERRA JULIET and confirm you cannot identify the aircraft affirmative DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger standby MELBOURNE DELTA SIERRA JULIET it's not an aircraft it is I I open microphone for two seconds I I DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE can you describe the er aircraft DELTA SIERRA JULIET as it's flying past it's a long shape I I open microphone for three seconds I I (cannot) identify more than (that it has such speed) I I open microphone for 3 seconds I I before me right now Melbourne DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger and how large would the er object be DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE it seems like it's stationary what I'm doing right now is. orbiting and the thing is just orbiting on top of me also it's got a green light and sort of metallic (like) it's all shiny (on) the outside DELTA SIERRA JULIET 6. RELEVANT EVENTS (cont'd) DELTA SIERRA JULIET I I open microphone for 5 seconds I I it's just vanished DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE would you know what kind of aircraft I've got is it (a type) military DELTA SIERRA JULIET confirm the er aircraft just vanished DELTA SIERRA JULIET is the aircraft still with you DELTA SIERRA JULIET (it's ah nor) I I open microphone 2 seconds I I (now) approaching from the southwest DELTA SIERRA JULIET DELTA SIERRA JULIET the engine is is rough idling I've got it set at twenty three twenty four and the thing is (coughing) DELTA SIERRA JULIET roger what are your intentions my intentions are ah to go to King Island ah Melbourne that strange aircraft is hovering on top of me again I I two seconds open microphone I I it is hovering and it' s not an aircraft DELTA SIERRA JULIET DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE I I 17 seconds open microphone I I DELTA SIERRA JULIET MELBOURNE There is n o record of any further transmissions from the aircraft. The weather in the Cape Otway area was clear with a trace of stratocumulus cloud at 5000 t o 7000 feet, scattered cirrus cloud at 30000 feet, excellent visibility and light winds. The e nd of daylight at Cape Otway was at 1918 hours. The Alert Phase of SAR procedures was declared at 1912 hours and, at 1933 hours when the aircraft did not arrive at King Island, the Distress Phase was declared and search action was commenced. An intensive air. sea and land seacch was continued until 25 October 1978, but no trace of the aircraft was found. 7. OPINION AS TO CAUSE The reason for the disappearance of the aircraft has not been determined. Delegate of the Secretory (A. R. Woodward) Australian Government OF AUSTRALIA DO NOT OPEN This acid free mask contains ... .0.~. >.". ~ ... folios The contents of the mask are: D Exempt from public access under paragraph(s) of the Archives Act 1983. You have a statutory right to seek a review of the exemption. ~Not in the open period as defined by the Archives Act 1983. D Withheld pending agency advice Department of Defence RAN Research Laboratory Reference: New Beach Road, Edgecllff, New South Wales .O. Box 706 Darlinghurst N.S.W. 2010 Telegrams : RAN RL. Telex : 27142 Co ntac t : Telepho ne: The Superintendent Bureau of Air Safety Investigation Box 1733P, GPO MELBOURNE, VIC 3001 Telephone. DRIFT OF MARINE WRECKAGE ~ I refer to your letter V116/783/104~ated 6 July 1983 where you discuss aircraft parts washed ashore on Flinders Island. Examination of our records of near bottom currents at the Kingfish B site (38 36 ' S , 14811'E) showed unusually large currents on Julian day 81, 1983 (that resulted from a storm) and again on Julian day 96. The bottom currents on day 96 exceeded O. Sm/s when the flow was in an easterly direction (to the east). Such large currents constitute an unusual event. Our results are stored as 17 minute s averages and only 2 in 1000 exceed O. Sm/s. Thus it would seem reasonable to speculate that the storm on day 96 induced large bottom currents over much of eastern Bass Strait and moved your aircraft parts towards Flinders Island. More usual currents could then have completed the process of washing the components If I can be of any further assistance please fe e l free to contact me on (02) 322211. faithfully , (JR., (IAN JONES) Ocean Sciences Division RAN Research Laboratory DR I.S.F. JONES R . A.tT. RESEARCH LADORATORY DARLTilGHURST NSW 2010 DRIFr OF IlhRDlE WREX:n{AGE Recently a piece of an aircraft was found washed ashore on the west coast of Flinders IolM.d {Tas). It wns found on the beach at Parry's Day, opposite the northern end or FlinneTIJ Island Aerodrome. The date of finding was 15 nay 198~, and there is reason to believe the piece had not been on the beach more than a few days. The part has been identified as ha.vinB' come from a Cessna. 182 aircraft between a certain range of serial numbers. The part is an engine cowl flap, for t e control or airflow over the engine. It ia 300r:mt long by 210tmn wide, and 40Jmn at its deepest point. It had two side panels when first found. The piece was once white (acrylic paint), and is made of alw:ainium composition, now greatly eroded. The operating bolt, of steel, while heavily corroded, appears to have !o.iled on impact or in flight (i.e. not by corrosion). A Cessna 182 aircraft on a flight from Uoorabbin to Y..ing Island last reported position a t Cape Otway, Victoria, at 1900 hours EST on 21 October 1978. The serial number of this a.i.rcraft falls within the range of serial numbers applicable to the part found. From previouo knowledge of aircraft parts "walking'' across the floor of tidnl lakes and rivers, it is wondered if such a piece as described could travel !roc an area between Cape Otway and the northem tip of King Island, or f"1"0IJ a position near the described tLr&a., under the influence of ocean currents. fuile 1 t is not \Ulknown for the oowl flap to separate troa the aircraft in flight, to our knowledge there have been no recent cases in the Victoria/ Tasca.nia area, and no wreckage o! aircraft have been dumped at sea to our knowledge, nor are other Cessna aircraft missing in the waters of Da.ss Strait. Any infOl."':lLl.tion you could pass concerning tbe likelihood of this particular item beill8 able to "travel", over a period of close to 5 years, would be a. step toward solving the mystery of the disappearance of this aircraft and ita sole occupant, and~aid to ita location. Plea.ae do not heai tate to call to discuss the matter. Attached pleaoe find a map showing the area of finding and two photographs of the 1 tem. I Ill~ Chalk, 1. BABEL// , I BJREAU OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATION REPORT Caption (above): Caption (below). PHOTOGPAPHS STOvKPIL.6