Chilling development after plane vanishes without a trace off the coast of Australia
An extensive multi-agency search for the bright green light aircraft across two states entered its third day on Monday.
The light plane carrying the pilot, aged in his 70s, and a female passenger, in her 60s, took off George Town airport in northern Tasmania early Saturday afternoon.
It was due to make a stop in Leongatha in southern Victoria before continuing to Hillston Airport, near Condobolin in central-west NSW.
The aircraft never made it to Leongatha.
It has since been revealed that the pilot didn't make contact with air authorities prior to taking off.
'You have to do scheduled reporting,' George Town flight instructor Eugene Reid told the ABC.
'On leaving the coast, they should have called up air services.'
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed the pilot made no contact with authorities but is yet to ascertain whether the plane disappeared before such contact was required.
The plane should have been equipped with an emergency satellite beacon in case anything went wrong, according to Mr Reid.
He added that George Town Airport wouldn't necessarily have a record of the pilot's plans.
'If someone took their plane out of the hangar and flew away, well, you wouldn't know,' he said.
It's understood the experienced pilot was flying a plane that was relatively new to him.
Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark told reporters on Sunday the pilot was believed to be 'very experienced'.
'The pilot was heavily involved with the aero club here at George Town,' he said.
However, said that t he plane was 'new to (the pilot)', as he had only purchased it three or months before the disappearance.
'We believe he has had several flights prior to this incident.'
'Any body of water is difficult to search, the main thing is, though that this is still a search operation.'
Inspector Clark added that the couple were heading to NSW to visit family, who raised the alarm late Saturday afternoon.
Authorities urge anyone near George Town or transiting the waters in northern Tasmania and Bass Strait, or southern Victoria near Leongatha to keep a lookout for for the missing aircraft and its occupants.
Regional airline Par Avion is assisting with air search efforts.
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