October 21, 1978. 20-year-old amateur pilot Frederick Valentich was flying from suburban Melbourne across the Bass Strait to King Island, when he informed ATC that he was encountering a strange object in his vicinity. His last recorded words were, “it’s not an aircraft.”
The case has drawn controversy, as further investigation revealed that Valentich’s piloting skills were questionable at best, and that he was a known UFO enthusiast. The most plausible explanation was that he became disoriented in the dark and crashed into the sea. Reports say no trace was found, but five years later a piece of fuselage from a Cessna 182 was recovered, the serial number of which was consistent with his plane.
1 Comment
October 21, 1978. 20-year-old amateur pilot Frederick Valentich was flying from suburban Melbourne across the Bass Strait to King Island, when he informed ATC that he was encountering a strange object in his vicinity. His last recorded words were, “it’s not an aircraft.”
The case has drawn controversy, as further investigation revealed that Valentich’s piloting skills were questionable at best, and that he was a known UFO enthusiast. The most plausible explanation was that he became disoriented in the dark and crashed into the sea. Reports say no trace was found, but five years later a piece of fuselage from a Cessna 182 was recovered, the serial number of which was consistent with his plane.