Wife of missing pilot David Stephens says the experienced pilot had plane recently inspected

Australia Broadcast Center

17-07-2025

The wife of a missing pilot in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains says he is an experienced flyer and the situation has been "heartbreaking" for his family.
Bega man David Stephens had his plane inspected before taking off from Wangaratta in Victoria on Tuesday afternoon, headed for Moruya on the NSW south coast.
The 74-year-old never arrived at his destination, and an extensive land and air search is underway at his last known location east of Khancoban in the Snowy Mountains.
His wife, Lynda Leigh, issued a statement to the ABC, saying Mr Stephens was an experienced pilot and a member of the Frog's Hollow Flyers aero club.
"Unfortunately, David disappeared on his flight home on Tuesday after having his aircraft inspected," she said in the statement.
"It is known that the mountain weather can turn very quickly, and we can only assume he must have seen a way over the mountain to decide not to turn back to Wangaratta.
"David has quite a bit of experience flying that plane, but we can't know what situation he was facing, and we'll only have answers once they locate the plane and with that David."
Ms Leigh said Mr Stephens was an accountant and was just two months away from retiring.
She said he was also a well-known rally sport commentator on the Sapphire Coast region.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is leading a multi-agency search for Mr Stephens and his plane, and said in a statement that the teams were struggling in "treacherous conditions".
"The trails are heavily snowed in. It's very rugged terrain and very steep alpine terrain that they're trying to navigate through," AMSA duty manager Dan Gilllis said.
The search involving multiple agencies commenced on Tuesday, assisted by NSW Police, NSW SES, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Snowy Hydro.
NSW Police said it was possible the plane crashed about 500 metres off Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys.
Mr Gillis said there were a number of aircraft also searching the remote area.
The search will continue until nightfall.