Valentich Disappearance
A 20-year-old Australian pilot on a training flight over Bass Strait radios Melbourne air traffic control to report a large unidentified aircraft with four bright lights hovering above him. His transmissions describe the object circling his Cessna before his final words are cut off by metallic scraping sounds. Neither the pilot nor his aircraft are ever recovered.
Videos
Background
On the evening of October 21, 1978, Frederick Valentich, a 20-year-old pilot, disappeared over Bass Strait while flying a Cessna 182L from Moorabbin Airport to King Island. He reported a large unknown object orbiting his aircraft before his transmission ended abruptly with metallic sounds, and no trace of him or the plane was ever found.
The Incident
Frederick Valentich departed Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne aboard a Cessna 182L on a training flight to King Island across Bass Strait.
At approximately 7:06 PM, cruising at 4,500 feet, he contacted Melbourne air traffic control.
He inquired about traffic below 5,000 feet and reported a large unknown aircraft 1,000 feet above him.
Object Description
Valentich described the object executing orbits around his Cessna.
- Had four bright landing lights
- Could not identify its type
- Stated explicitly it was not an aircraft in the conventional sense
The object approached from the east.
Final Transmission
Valentich reported his engine running roughly.
His final words: the object was hovering above him.
Transmission ended with 17 seconds of metallic scraping or grinding sound.
No further communication received.
Investigation
Extensive air and sea search by Australian Department of Transport and Royal Australian Air Force.
Covered hundreds of square kilometers of Bass Strait and surrounding coastline.
- No wreckage
- No oil slick
- No personal effects
Official conclusion: Reason for disappearance could not be established.
Audio Evidence
Complete audio recording of Valentich's radio exchanges preserved and publicly released.
Provides an unedited primary source.
Witness Reports
Several independent witnesses along the coastline reported:
- Unusual bright lights
- Green glow over Bass Strait on the same evening.
Significance
The Valentich disappearance is unique among UAP cases in that it involves a documented, real-time communication between a pilot and air traffic control describing an encounter with an unidentified object, followed by the permanent and total disappearance of both pilot and aircraft. The preserved audio recording provides an unimpeachable primary source that cannot be dismissed as retrospective embellishment. The failure to recover any physical trace despite extensive searching elevates this case beyond a mere sighting into an unresolved aviation mystery with UAP dimensions. Kean reproduced the full radio transcript between Valentich (Delta Sierra Juliet) and Melbourne Flight Service's Steve Robey, lasting from 9:06:14 to 9:12:49. Valentich described four bright landing lights, a long non-aircraft shape that was metallic and shiny with a green light. The tape ended with 17 seconds of strange metallic pulsed noise. Dr. Richard Haines personally analyzed the voice transcript. Twenty eyewitnesses in the region reported an erratically moving green light. Kean interviewed Ken Hansen of Apollo Bay who saw a large green light (~48 feet across) above a plane at the same time.