The case record
What was reported?
Pilot Frederick Valentich radioed that an unusual aircraft was following him before his transmission ended; aircraft and pilot disappeared.
- Reported date
- 21 Oct 1978
- Witnesses
- Pilot / air traffic control · 1 pilot
- Investigation
- Australian Department of Transport
Evidence in the record
Radio transcript; missing aircraft
Competing explanations
Official and research context
Unresolved disappearance
Conventional explanations
Spatial disorientation / accident proposed
Arguments that remain contested
No confirmed wreckage and unusual final radio report
Locations & timeline
Coordinates are representative. Area and route labels do not imply exact paths or object positions.
- Primary reference location
Bass Strait south of Cape Otway
Cape Otway
Reported event location · Approximate area radius: 80 km
-39.400°, 143.750° · route · Medium
Record notes
Show final flight route and broad search area.
Imported starting record; individual claims and source links await editorial verification.
Original dataset status: Unresolved