17-07-2025
Plane wreckage of missing flight discovered
A plane that was reported missing over the Snowy Mountains on a flight from Victoria to the NSW South Coast has been located.
The aircraft was being flown by 74-year-old David Stephens, a resident of Brogo in the Bega Valley.
He went missing on Tuesday afternoon between Wangaratta and Moruya.
Mr Stephens' wife, Lynda, spoke out earlier on Thursday about her husband's lifelong love of flying.
"Unfortunately, David disappeared on his flight home on Tuesday, July 15, after having his aircraft inspected," she said in a statement to The Bay Post.
Lynda said the mountain weather could turn very quickly, and it was assumed "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 the 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."
A NSW Police spokesperson said at 4.35pm on Tuesday, July 15, emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash in the vicinity of Dargals Trail, Snowy Valleys.
Air Services Australia notified the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) that a plane took off from Victoria, bound for Moruya Airport; however, it never arrived.
A command post was established.
A search commenced involving officers attached to the NSW Police Alpine Operations Unit, with assistance from NSW and Victoria Ambulance Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre airwing.
But the plane could not be located.
About 8.30am, Wednesday, July 16, the multi-agency search resumed, involving officers attached to NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, State Emergency Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Snowy Hydro.
"The AMSA Challenger rescue jet and two helicopters, from Victoria and Sydney, conducted an overhead search," the NSW Police spokesperson said.
"About 4pm, Thursday, July 17, a rescue helicopter located what was believed to be the crashed plane near the plane's last known GPS location."
Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s, and was immensely proud of his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, which he christened "Deb".
"David is also a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs on the Sapphire Coast region," Ms Stephens said.
"If he wasn't competing, he'll be volunteering as an official in all capacities for the ACT and NSW rally series, and in turn, the Australian Rally Championships."
President of the Frogs Hollow Flyers Tony Rettke said he drafted Mr Stephens as secretary to the club in recognition of his broad experience.
"I pulled him onto the committee because he was a member and I could tell he had a lot to contribute with regard to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," he said.
Mr Stephens worked for decades as a chartered tax accountant, and was only two months away from retirement, when his family said they hoped to spend more time with him.
A plane that was reported missing over the Snowy Mountains on a flight from Victoria to the NSW South Coast has been located.
The aircraft was being flown by 74-year-old David Stephens, a resident of Brogo in the Bega Valley.
He went missing on Tuesday afternoon between Wangaratta and Moruya.
Mr Stephens' wife, Lynda, spoke out earlier on Thursday about her husband's lifelong love of flying.
"Unfortunately, David disappeared on his flight home on Tuesday, July 15, after having his aircraft inspected," she said in a statement to The Bay Post.
Lynda said the mountain weather could turn very quickly, and it was assumed "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 the 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."
A NSW Police spokesperson said at 4.35pm on Tuesday, July 15, emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash in the vicinity of Dargals Trail, Snowy Valleys.
Air Services Australia notified the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) that a plane took off from Victoria, bound for Moruya Airport; however, it never arrived.
A command post was established.
A search commenced involving officers attached to the NSW Police Alpine Operations Unit, with assistance from NSW and Victoria Ambulance Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre airwing.
But the plane could not be located.
About 8.30am, Wednesday, July 16, the multi-agency search resumed, involving officers attached to NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, State Emergency Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Snowy Hydro.
"The AMSA Challenger rescue jet and two helicopters, from Victoria and Sydney, conducted an overhead search," the NSW Police spokesperson said.
"About 4pm, Thursday, July 17, a rescue helicopter located what was believed to be the crashed plane near the plane's last known GPS location."
Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s, and was immensely proud of his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, which he christened "Deb".
"David is also a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs on the Sapphire Coast region," Ms Stephens said.
"If he wasn't competing, he'll be volunteering as an official in all capacities for the ACT and NSW rally series, and in turn, the Australian Rally Championships."
President of the Frogs Hollow Flyers Tony Rettke said he drafted Mr Stephens as secretary to the club in recognition of his broad experience.
"I pulled him onto the committee because he was a member and I could tell he had a lot to contribute with regard to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," he said.
Mr Stephens worked for decades as a chartered tax accountant, and was only two months away from retirement, when his family said they hoped to spend more time with him.
A plane that was reported missing over the Snowy Mountains on a flight from Victoria to the NSW South Coast has been located.
The aircraft was being flown by 74-year-old David Stephens, a resident of Brogo in the Bega Valley.
He went missing on Tuesday afternoon between Wangaratta and Moruya.
Mr Stephens' wife, Lynda, spoke out earlier on Thursday about her husband's lifelong love of flying.
"Unfortunately, David disappeared on his flight home on Tuesday, July 15, after having his aircraft inspected," she said in a statement to The Bay Post.
Lynda said the mountain weather could turn very quickly, and it was assumed "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 the 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."
A NSW Police spokesperson said at 4.35pm on Tuesday, July 15, emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash in the vicinity of Dargals Trail, Snowy Valleys.
Air Services Australia notified the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) that a plane took off from Victoria, bound for Moruya Airport; however, it never arrived.
A command post was established.
A search commenced involving officers attached to the NSW Police Alpine Operations Unit, with assistance from NSW and Victoria Ambulance Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre airwing.
But the plane could not be located.
About 8.30am, Wednesday, July 16, the multi-agency search resumed, involving officers attached to NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, State Emergency Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Snowy Hydro.
"The AMSA Challenger rescue jet and two helicopters, from Victoria and Sydney, conducted an overhead search," the NSW Police spokesperson said.
"About 4pm, Thursday, July 17, a rescue helicopter located what was believed to be the crashed plane near the plane's last known GPS location."
Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s, and was immensely proud of his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, which he christened "Deb".
"David is also a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs on the Sapphire Coast region," Ms Stephens said.
"If he wasn't competing, he'll be volunteering as an official in all capacities for the ACT and NSW rally series, and in turn, the Australian Rally Championships."
President of the Frogs Hollow Flyers Tony Rettke said he drafted Mr Stephens as secretary to the club in recognition of his broad experience.
"I pulled him onto the committee because he was a member and I could tell he had a lot to contribute with regard to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," he said.
Mr Stephens worked for decades as a chartered tax accountant, and was only two months away from retirement, when his family said they hoped to spend more time with him.
A plane that was reported missing over the Snowy Mountains on a flight from Victoria to the NSW South Coast has been located.
The aircraft was being flown by 74-year-old David Stephens, a resident of Brogo in the Bega Valley.
He went missing on Tuesday afternoon between Wangaratta and Moruya.
Mr Stephens' wife, Lynda, spoke out earlier on Thursday about her husband's lifelong love of flying.
"Unfortunately, David disappeared on his flight home on Tuesday, July 15, after having his aircraft inspected," she said in a statement to The Bay Post.
Lynda said the mountain weather could turn very quickly, and it was assumed "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 the 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."
A NSW Police spokesperson said at 4.35pm on Tuesday, July 15, emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash in the vicinity of Dargals Trail, Snowy Valleys.
Air Services Australia notified the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) that a plane took off from Victoria, bound for Moruya Airport; however, it never arrived.
A command post was established.
A search commenced involving officers attached to the NSW Police Alpine Operations Unit, with assistance from NSW and Victoria Ambulance Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre airwing.
But the plane could not be located.
About 8.30am, Wednesday, July 16, the multi-agency search resumed, involving officers attached to NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, State Emergency Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Snowy Hydro.
"The AMSA Challenger rescue jet and two helicopters, from Victoria and Sydney, conducted an overhead search," the NSW Police spokesperson said.
"About 4pm, Thursday, July 17, a rescue helicopter located what was believed to be the crashed plane near the plane's last known GPS location."
Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s, and was immensely proud of his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, which he christened "Deb".
"David is also a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs on the Sapphire Coast region," Ms Stephens said.
"If he wasn't competing, he'll be volunteering as an official in all capacities for the ACT and NSW rally series, and in turn, the Australian Rally Championships."
President of the Frogs Hollow Flyers Tony Rettke said he drafted Mr Stephens as secretary to the club in recognition of his broad experience.
"I pulled him onto the committee because he was a member and I could tell he had a lot to contribute with regard to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," he said.
Mr Stephens worked for decades as a chartered tax accountant, and was only two months away from retirement, when his family said they hoped to spend more time with him.
