Light aircraft missing E of Khancoban, NSW - 15/07/2025

[onetrack]

News media are reporting a light aircraft with only the pilot on board, has failed to arrive at its planned destination at Moruya after leaving Wangaratta earlier yesterday.

 

Emergency services were notified at 4:30PM yesterday and AMSA have been searching with their Challenger jet, and the Victorian ambulance emergency medical helicopter, and a Toll rescue helicopter from Bankstown are assisting. The search was suspended at 4:00PM today due to poor weather conditions.

 

AMSA has reported they suspect the aircraft has crashed in rugged terrain E of Khancoban in NSW.

 

Police are saying their search area is in the region of Dargal Trails in the Jugungal Wilderness area.

 

Overall, the scenario outcome doesn't look good.

 

Search for missing plane underway in NSW Snowy Mountains - ABC News

WWW.ABC.NET.AU

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The search was launched after aircraft, with one occupant aboard, failed to arrive at its destination on the state's Far South Coast.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 10:16 AM by onetrack

[Thruster88]

FR shows a Beech 33 debonair disappear in that area. Looks like vfr flying low.

[facthunter]

It's rugged country and I wouldn't rule out ICING..  Nev

[Love to fly]

2 hours ago, facthunter said:

It's rugged country and I wouldn't rule out ICING..  Nev

We flew Bairnsdale to Tocumwal IFR yesterday. Went the long way as freezing levels were 5,000. Day before they were even lower.  W could hear the rescuer aircraft.  Horrible feeling, and still hoping for a good outcome.

[onetrack]

The aircraft is indeed, the Beech 35-C33, rego VH-KZK. It's a 1966 model originally registered in Oklahoma, then it was imported to W.A. in 1967 and put on Australian registration as VH-KZK. Powered by a Conty IO-470.

 

The search resumed again this morning, reported heavy snowfalls in the region - with very rugged terrain, it must be a slog for search crews. No updates at this time.

 

Ed Coates information about the aircraft is pretty good, but not entirely correct, it wasn't new when it came into W.A.

 

https://airport-data.com/aircraft/N2045W.html

 

https://airport-data.com/aircraft/VH-KZK.html

 

 

/graphics/ICAOtype/BE33.gif

Incident Beechcraft 35-C33 Debonair VH-KZK, Tuesday 15 July 2025

ASN.FLIGHTSAFETY.ORG

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A Beechcraft 35-C33 Debonair, carrying one occupant is missing in the area of Snowy Mountains, New South Wales. <br />Search operations are being conducted.

 

VH-KZK

WWW.EDCOATESCOLLECTION.COM

 

 

[Roundsounds]

I’m pretty sure this aircraft was used as a training airframe at Padstow TAFE for many years. A guy from Camden bought it and restored it to flying condition late 1990s. 

[flying dog]

17 July news.

 

I believe it has been found.

 

[BrendAn]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/suspected-crashed-plane-found-in-search-for-missing-pilot/ar-AA1IKpsW?ocid=socialshare

 

[onetrack]

More expansive information from the ABC ...

 

 

Wreckage of missing plane located in Snowy Mountains, no update yet on pilot David Stephens - ABC News

WWW.ABC.NET.AU

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The wreckage of the plane was located on Thursday afternoon by a rescue helicopter, with NSW Police yet to provide an update on the pilot.

 

[Thruster88]

On 17/07/2025 at 12:10 PM, Love to fly said:

We flew Bairnsdale to Tocumwal IFR yesterday. Went the long way as freezing levels were 5,000. Day before they were even lower.  W could hear the rescuer aircraft.  Horrible feeling, and still hoping for a good outcome.

Yes going the long way always the best option. The increased safety of a track north of canberra with lower terrain and more landing options rather than direct Wangeratta Moruya adds only 21mins to the trip for a 160knot aircraft. 

[onetrack]

A body has been retrieved from the aircraft wreckage at around 3:00PM EST today, and it is believed that it is the body of the pilot, David Stephens. The body is currently being examined to produce formal identification. The crash appears to be a high speed impact with terrain, an unsurvivable crash, and with wreckage spread over a sizeable area.

 

Body found in Snowy Mountains amid search for missing pilot David Stephens - ABC News

WWW.ABC.NET.AU

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A body believed to be that of a missing pilot has been located in the wreckage of a plane in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains.

 

[BirdDog]

 

Appears no mayday call either.  
 

RIP old mate. 😞

[Methusala]

If I was travelling Tumut to Moruya I would take exactly the track described over Murrumbateman. Saving a few minutes is not that important.

[onetrack]

One struggles to understand why a pilot with long standing in the aviation community, supposedly excellent piloting skills, and a fine aircraft, would place themselves in such a high-risk environment, as in flying right over the top of the Snowy Mts in seriously adverse weather and even more dangerous terrain. No doubt it will also puzzle the ATSB investigators, as well.

One can only presume that old trait of complacency, that often comes with long experience, was the reason behind his poor decision-making.

[facthunter]

Freezing level and visibility and LSALT. Ice will bring you down fast. Don't find out the Hard way. Nev

[facthunter]

Over TIGER Country your engine MUST keep running also.   Nev