The last words spoken by 20-year-old Frederick Valentich were recorded on the evening of October 21, 1978. At 6.19pm Valentich took off alone from Moorabbin airfield in Victoria on what was logged as a return flight to King Island. The Cessna 182 four-seater carried a full load of fuel. There were light winds and visibility was described as excellent.
At 7.06pm, Valentich, flying at about 4500 feet, contacted Melbourne flight control to ask whether there was “any known traffic below 5000 (feet)”. The reply was negative.
Valentich then reported seeing a “large aircraft below 5000” approaching him from the east. The mystery aircraft was “sort of metallic … shiny (on) the outside” and had a green light.
