7 days ago
Search continues for missing couple Gregory Vaughan and Kim Worner, despite no traces found
The search is continuing for a northern Tasmanian couple who have been missing since taking off from George Town Airport in a light plane almost two weeks ago — despite no trace being found.
Pilot Gregory Vaughan, 72, his partner Kim Warner, 66, and their dog Molly, left George Town bound for central New South Wales about 12:45pm on Saturday August 2, but did not arrive at their destination and have not been heard from since.
There has also been no sign of their bright green, two-seater Bristell S-LSA aircraft, which police earlier said Mr Vaughan had purchased "three or four months ago".
George Town Airport Association president David Brewster has said Mr Vaughan, an experienced pilot, sent a text message to a friend before he departed, but the friend was concerned when he had not heard a departure call over the radio from Mr Vaughan.
The plane's transponder was also not tracked during the flight.
Tasmania Police said challenging conditions limited search efforts earlier this week, but better weather on Thursday meant the rescue helicopter could be used to sweep Tasmania's north-east coast and the Furneaux group of islands, including Flinders Island.
Police said the search area was determined from "drift modelling".
Inspector Craig Fox said the helicopter sweeps did not reveal any wreckage or debris that could indicate where the plane was.
Inspector Fox said Tasmania Police would review the search operations "daily", and no decision had been made yet to suspend the search.
Anyone who has information that could help the search, or who has seen a plane matching the description, or noticed unusual debris or wreckage on land or in the water, is urged to contact Tasmania Police.
