The disappearance of Frederick Valentich
The disappearance of Frederick Valentich on October 21, 1978, is one of Australia’s most enduring aviation mysteries. Valentich was a 20-year-old pilot who was flying a Cessna 182L light aircraft from Melbourne’s Moorabbin Airport to King Island, a small island in Bass Strait.
At 7:12 p.m., Valentich established radio contact with Melbourne Flight Service. He reported that he was being accompanied by an aircraft about 1,000 feet above him. The aircraft was described as having four bright lights in a diamond formation. Valentich also reported that his engine was running roughly.
**Tower:** Sierra India Victor, I can’t see any traffic on my radar.
**Valentich:** It’s not a commercial airliner or anything. It’s something else.
**Tower:** Sierra India Victor, describe the aircraft again.
**Valentich:** It’s about 1,000 feet above me. It’s metallic and it’s moving at a high speed.
At 7:15 p.m., Valentich reported that the aircraft was now hovering above him. He said that it was “metallic” in appearance and that it had a length of about 300 feet. He also said that it was making a “strange humming” sound.
**Valentich:** The aircraft is now hovering above me. It’s about 300 feet long and it’s making a strange humming sound.
At 7:18 p.m., Valentich’s voice became agitated. He said that the aircraft was now chasing him. He also said that he was having trouble controlling his aircraft.
**Valentich:** The aircraft is chasing me. I’m having trouble controlling my aircraft.
At 7:21 p.m., Valentich’s voice became faint and garbled. He said that the aircraft was now “on top of him” and that he was going “into the light.”
**Valentich:** The aircraft is now on top of me. I’m going into the light.
**Tower:** Sierra India Victor? Sierra India Victor?
[End of transmission]
Valentich’s radio transmission was recorded by Melbourne Flight Service. This recording provides a firsthand account of Valentich’s experience. The recording is clear and concise, and there is no indication that Valentich was under any distress prior to his final transmission.
An extensive search was conducted for Valentich and his aircraft, but no trace of either was ever found.
The official investigation into the disappearance of Frederick Valentich was conducted by the Australian Department of Transport. The investigation lasted for over a year and involved interviewing witnesses, examining Valentich’s aircraft, and searching the area where he disappeared.
The investigators concluded that Valentich was likely the victim of a pilot error. They found that there was no evidence to support the claim that Valentich had been abducted by aliens or that he had encountered a UFO. However, the investigators also admitted that they were unable to determine definitively what had happened to Valentich or his aircraft.
Official investigation:
* “The evidence gathered during the course of the investigation does not support the claim that the pilot of Cessna 182L Sierra India Victor was abducted by aliens or that he encountered a UFO.”
* “The most probable explanation for the disappearance of Cessna 182L Sierra India Victor is that the pilot experienced a spatial disorientation and lost control of the aircraft.”
* “It is possible that the pilot was distracted by the lights of the unidentified aircraft, which may have caused him to lose his orientation. It is also possible that the pilot was experiencing some kind of medical condition, such as a heart attack or a stroke.”
The official investigation into the disappearance of Frederick Valentich remains controversial. Some people believe that the investigators were too quick to dismiss the possibility of an alien abduction or a UFO encounter. Others believe that the investigators did a thorough and impartial job.
The disappearance of Frederick Valentich remains one of Australia’s most enduring aviation mysteries. It has been the subject of numerous books, articles, and documentaries. Valentich’s story has also been referenced in popular culture, including in the television series The X-Files and the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
The disappearance of Frederick Valentich is a complex and intriguing mystery. There is no clear consensus on what happened to him or his aircraft. However, his story continues to fascinate and captivate people around the world.
