Missing Aircraft Discovered in the Snowy Mountains; Pilot's Spouse Speaks Out for First Time
In a tragic turn of events, the search for 74-year-old pilot David Stephens, who went missing after his plane failed to land at Moruya Airport on NSW's Far South Coast on Tuesday, is still ongoing. The aircraft, a 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, was found crashed in a remote area of the Snowy Mountains. However, Mr. Stephens has not been located yet.
The search efforts, now being led by NSW Police, are focusing on finding the missing pilot in the challenging environment of the snow-covered mountains. The terrain in the search area is described as rugged and inaccessible, making the mission all the more daunting.
The plane may have crashed within 500 metres of the Dargals Trail, a remote hiking track in Kosciuszko National Park. The search efforts are forging on through 'hazardous' ground conditions, as AMSA response centre duty manager Dan Gillis mentioned.
The incident occurred amid 'hazardous' alpine conditions, with temperatures at Khancoban ranging between five and ten degrees Celsius on Tuesday and snow showers forecast at higher altitudes. Further showers are expected to take place on Friday with temperatures falling as low as minus one degree Celsius, posing additional challenges to the search party.
The plane was declared missing after it failed to make its landing at Moruya on Tuesday. AMSA first sounded the alarm when it was notified by Air Services Australia that an aircraft had missed its arrival time at Moruya Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
David Stephens, a respected member of the Sapphire Coast community, is a tax accountant and the secretary for Bega Valley aviation club, Frog's Hollow Flyers. His wife, Lynda Leigh, described him as an experienced pilot. The owner of the club's airstrip, Eric Johnston, stated that Mr. Stephens had been highly respected by its members.
Search efforts were led by AMSA with assistance from NSW Police, NSW State Emergency Service, NSW National Parks and Wildlife service, Snowy Hydro, and two helicopters from Victoria and the ACT. The last known location of the plane was near Khancoban in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains, and the crashed plane was found near its last known GPS location on Thursday.
The community is hopeful for a positive outcome and is keeping Mr. Stephens and his family in their thoughts during this difficult time. The search efforts continue, and we will bring you updates as more information becomes available.
The weather in the Snowy Mountains, where the search for David Stephens is ongoing, has become increasingly challenging, with temperatures falling as low as minus one degree Celsius and additional snow showers forecasted for Friday. The finance industry, of which David Stephens is a respected member, and the aviation sector express sorrow and hope for a positive outcome, as search efforts continue in the hazardous terrain of Khancoban. Meanwhile, the transportation industry, including the AMSA and NSW Police, are making great efforts to navigate difficult ground conditions and locate the missing 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, key events in the recent news cycle for the Australian aviation and transportation industries.
