According to Tasmania Police, the search for Gregory Vaughan, 72, Kim Worner, 66, and their dog Molly remains unresolved nearly a year after their disappearance during a flight from George Town airport in Tasmania. The couple was piloting a bright green two-seater, single-engine Bristell S-LSA aircraft when they took off at around 12:45 PM on August 2, 2022, intending to cross Bass Strait.
Their journey included a planned fuel stop in regional Victoria before they were to continue to Hillston, New South Wales, situated west of Condobolin. Unfortunately, they have not been seen or heard from since their departure.
Friends who were aware of the couple’s travel plans grew concerned when no radio communication was made following takeoff, a standard practice for pilots. Stephen Ross, treasurer of the Georgetown Airport Association, was among those who took to the skies to search for Vaughan and Worner after realizing that something was amiss.
“Greg typically followed a process for radio calls, which did not happen this time,” Ross shared with ABC Northern Tasmania. “One of Greg’s friends at the airport noticed the absence of contact and became worried quite early on.”
Once the alarm was raised, both friends and authorities initiated an extensive search, but hopes of quickly locating the couple soon faded. “People often reflect on the past year, pondering what truly happened,” Ross noted. “While the emotional intensity has lessened over time, there remains a sense of sorrow surrounding the incident.”
Ross commended the authorities for their thorough search efforts, although the official search was eventually suspended. “I appreciate the resources and diligence they dedicated to the search,” he remarked. “Afterward, we conducted our own flights along the coast and ocean to look for any signs of them.”
So far, no evidence of the aircraft has been discovered. Police confirmed that Vaughan did not make a distress call and indicated that there were no active tracking devices on board.
In remembrance of the couple, Ross mentioned that an informal gathering took place this week, where friends shared stories and memories over pizza and beer. “Greg had a lifelong career in aviation, starting as a tradesman in the U.S. before becoming an engineering and safety expert in an engine manufacturing company,” he recalled.
Ross became acquainted with the couple after they relocated to Tasmania following Vaughan’s retirement. “I would see him frequently, sharing cups of tea, flying together, and assisting each other with our aircraft,” he added.
He expressed concerns over the lack of advancements in technology for locating missing aircraft since the couple’s disappearance. “The methods available a year ago remain unchanged, and no significant breakthroughs have occurred,” he stated. Ross remains hopeful that new evidence will eventually surface to provide clarity regarding the couple’s fate.
“If anyone on Tasmania’s northern coast or in the Flinders Island area happens to find any wreckage or parts of a light green aircraft, please reach out to the police with the details,” he urged. “Such information could help us solve the mystery of Greg and Kim’s disappearance.”
