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Sky News AU
18-07-2025
- General
- Sky News AU
Tragic update as police confirm man's body found after plane crash in New South Wales Snowy Mountains region
Police have confirmed a man's body has been found after a light aircraft crash in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains region. The plane, with one person on board, was flying from Wangaratta in Victoria to the NSW South Coast on Tuesday when it never made its scheduled landing at Moruya Airport. A rescue helicopter found the wreckage of the plane on Thursday about 10km from Khancoban in the Snowy Mountains, which was near the aircraft's last known GPS location. The pilot on board the 1966 Beechcraft Debonair plane has since been named as Bega man David Stephens, although police said the sole occupant of the aircraft is yet to be formally identified. NSW Police confirmed a man's body had been found in wreckage near the crash site about 3.00pm on Friday following a multi-day search and recovery operation. "While he is yet to be formally identified, police believe the body is that of the missing pilot," police said in a statement. "Police remain at the crash site and it is expected the body will be removed from the site later this afternoon. "A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner." Mr Stephen's wife Lynda Leigh issued a statement to the ABC on Thursday, explaining the 74-year-old experienced pilot and accountant had never returned home after embarking on a flight. "Unfortunately, David disappeared on his flight home," she said. "It is known that the mountain weather can turn very quickly and we have to assume he must have seen a way over the mountain and decided 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." Earlier on Friday, Riverina Police District Commander Superintendent Andrew Spliet confirmed the family's worst fears as he said the sheer impact of the crash would not have been survivable. "It's clear from the wreckage of that plane that there's been a significant impact into the terrain there in the Snowy Mountains," he told reporters at a media conference. Asked if he could confirm any further details about the pilot, Supt Spliet said police were not in a position to make any positive identifications. "With the significant impact that has occurred, there's quite a bit of wreckage from that impact, it's fairly clear that it wouldn't be survivable," Supt Spliet said. Investigators are still working to determine what caused the collission. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane ... obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range there which has completely destroyed that aircraft," Supt Spliet said. Supt Spliet said steep terrain combined with a lot of snow and fog made the crash site difficult to access and navigate. Although he could not confirm the flying conditions at the time of the crash, Supt Spliet noted the weather was "fairly inclement" during the search efforts. NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal officers and the Alpine Operations Unit were deployed in the search, which was ultimately led by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. National Parks and Wildlife Service crew, State Emergency Service volunteers and officers from the ACT Police Alpine Unit also took part in the operation.
ABC News
18-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
Snowy Mountains plane crash not survivable, police say
Police say the pilot of a plane that crashed in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains would not have survived the impact. Authorities believe the pilot is Bega man David Stephens. His plane was inspected before taking off from Wangaratta in Victoria on Tuesday afternoon. The 74-year-old did not arrive at Moruya and an extensive land and air search began. At about 4pm on Thursday a rescue helicopter located wreckage near the plane's last known location. Riverina Police District Commander Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the crash was not a "survivable collision". "You wouldn't recognise [the wreckage] it as an airplane … a fair bit of speed into the mountain range there, which has completely destroyed that aircraft," he said. "It wouldn't be a survivable collision. "There is quite a bit of wreckage from that impact." Police investigators are attending the scene.
The Advertiser
18-07-2025
- The Advertiser
'It wouldn't be survivable': pilot presumed dead in Snowy Mountains crash
While police haven't yet formally identified the body of the pilot who went missing on a flight over the Snowy Mountains, police sources said the crash was 'unsurvivable'. In a recent press conference, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the force of the impact of the aircraft was significant. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane," he said. "There was obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range, which has completely destroyed that aircraft, and it wouldn't be a survivable collision." A recovery operation was underway, with crime scene investigators winched onto the site. "We've got investigators, as well as crime scene, attending that site, to clarify the cause of the collision and also see if we can identify the pilot," Mr Spliet said. Conditions on the mountain have continued to frustrate the search and recovery operation. "It was very difficult to get to," he said. "There was a lot of very steep, overgrown terrain, so it was difficult to locate initially, but when weather conditions cleared, we were able to get those air assets over the coordinates." The pilot, widely believed to be Brogo resident David Stephens, was flying his beloved plane when he went missing on Tuesday afternoon. In the days before his disappearance, Mr Stephens flew from Moruya Airport to Frogs Hollow on the Far South Coast, and then from the Bega Valley-based airstrip to Wangaratta, a city northeast of Victoria. But on Tuesday, July 15, at 4.35pm, NSW Police said emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash near Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys. His partner, Lynda Leigh, said in a statement on Thursday to Bega District News that the mountain weather could turn very quickly. "We have to assume he must have seen a way over the mountain to decide not to turn back to Wangaratta," she said. "David has quite a bit of experience flying the plane, but we can't know what situation he was facing. "We'll only have answers once they locate the plane and, with that, David." Ms Leigh thanked the outpouring of hope and support from the community and the emergency services who searched for David in heavy fog, snow, heavy vegetation and horrendous terrain. President of the Frogs Hollow Flyers, Tony Rettke, said Mr Stephens was an honest man and that he had drafted him 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 to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," he said. "He did his job well and had only been doing it for about six months, and had a major role in a recent fly-in with 25 aircraft coming to camp." Besides being the immensely proud pilot of "Deb", his 1966 Debonair, David Stephens had a long history of drifting on dirt trails. His partner said Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s. As well as Frogs Hollow Flyer, Mr Stephens was a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs across the Far South Coast. "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," Ms Leigh said. In 2017, Ms Leigh told Bega District News that David competed on the famous Upper Cobargo and Buckajo Roads since the 70s and often hoped she would get a chance to drive the Bega Rally herself. "I really enjoyed watching the Rally of Canberra since I moved there from Sydney in the 90s, but never did I think for a moment I'd compete or own my own rally car," she said. "David takes his rallying seriously and I was honoured to be asked to be his co-driver - in my first year in the 'silly seat', we won the 2015 NSW Pace note series, which wasn't a bad start!" While police haven't yet formally identified the body of the pilot who went missing on a flight over the Snowy Mountains, police sources said the crash was 'unsurvivable'. In a recent press conference, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the force of the impact of the aircraft was significant. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane," he said. "There was obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range, which has completely destroyed that aircraft, and it wouldn't be a survivable collision." A recovery operation was underway, with crime scene investigators winched onto the site. "We've got investigators, as well as crime scene, attending that site, to clarify the cause of the collision and also see if we can identify the pilot," Mr Spliet said. Conditions on the mountain have continued to frustrate the search and recovery operation. "It was very difficult to get to," he said. "There was a lot of very steep, overgrown terrain, so it was difficult to locate initially, but when weather conditions cleared, we were able to get those air assets over the coordinates." The pilot, widely believed to be Brogo resident David Stephens, was flying his beloved plane when he went missing on Tuesday afternoon. In the days before his disappearance, Mr Stephens flew from Moruya Airport to Frogs Hollow on the Far South Coast, and then from the Bega Valley-based airstrip to Wangaratta, a city northeast of Victoria. But on Tuesday, July 15, at 4.35pm, NSW Police said emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash near Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys. His partner, Lynda Leigh, said in a statement on Thursday to Bega District News that the mountain weather could turn very quickly. "We have to assume he must have seen a way over the mountain to decide not to turn back to Wangaratta," she said. "David has quite a bit of experience flying the plane, but we can't know what situation he was facing. "We'll only have answers once they locate the plane and, with that, David." Ms Leigh thanked the outpouring of hope and support from the community and the emergency services who searched for David in heavy fog, snow, heavy vegetation and horrendous terrain. President of the Frogs Hollow Flyers, Tony Rettke, said Mr Stephens was an honest man and that he had drafted him 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 to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," he said. "He did his job well and had only been doing it for about six months, and had a major role in a recent fly-in with 25 aircraft coming to camp." Besides being the immensely proud pilot of "Deb", his 1966 Debonair, David Stephens had a long history of drifting on dirt trails. His partner said Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s. As well as Frogs Hollow Flyer, Mr Stephens was a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs across the Far South Coast. "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," Ms Leigh said. In 2017, Ms Leigh told Bega District News that David competed on the famous Upper Cobargo and Buckajo Roads since the 70s and often hoped she would get a chance to drive the Bega Rally herself. "I really enjoyed watching the Rally of Canberra since I moved there from Sydney in the 90s, but never did I think for a moment I'd compete or own my own rally car," she said. "David takes his rallying seriously and I was honoured to be asked to be his co-driver - in my first year in the 'silly seat', we won the 2015 NSW Pace note series, which wasn't a bad start!" While police haven't yet formally identified the body of the pilot who went missing on a flight over the Snowy Mountains, police sources said the crash was 'unsurvivable'. In a recent press conference, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the force of the impact of the aircraft was significant. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane," he said. "There was obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range, which has completely destroyed that aircraft, and it wouldn't be a survivable collision." A recovery operation was underway, with crime scene investigators winched onto the site. "We've got investigators, as well as crime scene, attending that site, to clarify the cause of the collision and also see if we can identify the pilot," Mr Spliet said. Conditions on the mountain have continued to frustrate the search and recovery operation. "It was very difficult to get to," he said. "There was a lot of very steep, overgrown terrain, so it was difficult to locate initially, but when weather conditions cleared, we were able to get those air assets over the coordinates." The pilot, widely believed to be Brogo resident David Stephens, was flying his beloved plane when he went missing on Tuesday afternoon. In the days before his disappearance, Mr Stephens flew from Moruya Airport to Frogs Hollow on the Far South Coast, and then from the Bega Valley-based airstrip to Wangaratta, a city northeast of Victoria. But on Tuesday, July 15, at 4.35pm, NSW Police said emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash near Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys. His partner, Lynda Leigh, said in a statement on Thursday to Bega District News that the mountain weather could turn very quickly. "We have to assume he must have seen a way over the mountain to decide not to turn back to Wangaratta," she said. "David has quite a bit of experience flying the plane, but we can't know what situation he was facing. "We'll only have answers once they locate the plane and, with that, David." Ms Leigh thanked the outpouring of hope and support from the community and the emergency services who searched for David in heavy fog, snow, heavy vegetation and horrendous terrain. President of the Frogs Hollow Flyers, Tony Rettke, said Mr Stephens was an honest man and that he had drafted him 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 to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," he said. "He did his job well and had only been doing it for about six months, and had a major role in a recent fly-in with 25 aircraft coming to camp." Besides being the immensely proud pilot of "Deb", his 1966 Debonair, David Stephens had a long history of drifting on dirt trails. His partner said Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s. As well as Frogs Hollow Flyer, Mr Stephens was a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs across the Far South Coast. "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," Ms Leigh said. In 2017, Ms Leigh told Bega District News that David competed on the famous Upper Cobargo and Buckajo Roads since the 70s and often hoped she would get a chance to drive the Bega Rally herself. "I really enjoyed watching the Rally of Canberra since I moved there from Sydney in the 90s, but never did I think for a moment I'd compete or own my own rally car," she said. "David takes his rallying seriously and I was honoured to be asked to be his co-driver - in my first year in the 'silly seat', we won the 2015 NSW Pace note series, which wasn't a bad start!" While police haven't yet formally identified the body of the pilot who went missing on a flight over the Snowy Mountains, police sources said the crash was 'unsurvivable'. In a recent press conference, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the force of the impact of the aircraft was significant. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane," he said. "There was obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range, which has completely destroyed that aircraft, and it wouldn't be a survivable collision." A recovery operation was underway, with crime scene investigators winched onto the site. "We've got investigators, as well as crime scene, attending that site, to clarify the cause of the collision and also see if we can identify the pilot," Mr Spliet said. Conditions on the mountain have continued to frustrate the search and recovery operation. "It was very difficult to get to," he said. "There was a lot of very steep, overgrown terrain, so it was difficult to locate initially, but when weather conditions cleared, we were able to get those air assets over the coordinates." The pilot, widely believed to be Brogo resident David Stephens, was flying his beloved plane when he went missing on Tuesday afternoon. In the days before his disappearance, Mr Stephens flew from Moruya Airport to Frogs Hollow on the Far South Coast, and then from the Bega Valley-based airstrip to Wangaratta, a city northeast of Victoria. But on Tuesday, July 15, at 4.35pm, NSW Police said emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash near Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys. His partner, Lynda Leigh, said in a statement on Thursday to Bega District News that the mountain weather could turn very quickly. "We have to assume he must have seen a way over the mountain to decide not to turn back to Wangaratta," she said. "David has quite a bit of experience flying the plane, but we can't know what situation he was facing. "We'll only have answers once they locate the plane and, with that, David." Ms Leigh thanked the outpouring of hope and support from the community and the emergency services who searched for David in heavy fog, snow, heavy vegetation and horrendous terrain. President of the Frogs Hollow Flyers, Tony Rettke, said Mr Stephens was an honest man and that he had drafted him 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 to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," he said. "He did his job well and had only been doing it for about six months, and had a major role in a recent fly-in with 25 aircraft coming to camp." Besides being the immensely proud pilot of "Deb", his 1966 Debonair, David Stephens had a long history of drifting on dirt trails. His partner said Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s. As well as Frogs Hollow Flyer, Mr Stephens was a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs across the Far South Coast. "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," Ms Leigh said. In 2017, Ms Leigh told Bega District News that David competed on the famous Upper Cobargo and Buckajo Roads since the 70s and often hoped she would get a chance to drive the Bega Rally herself. "I really enjoyed watching the Rally of Canberra since I moved there from Sydney in the 90s, but never did I think for a moment I'd compete or own my own rally car," she said. "David takes his rallying seriously and I was honoured to be asked to be his co-driver - in my first year in the 'silly seat', we won the 2015 NSW Pace note series, which wasn't a bad start!"
