Encounter · 1978

Valentich Disappearance
Documented report. Unresolved object.

On 21 October 1978, Frederick Valentich disappeared while flying a Cessna 182 over Bass Strait after reporting an unidentified object.

21 October 1978Bass Strait, AustraliaEvidence-led case fileEncounter

01 / why this case matters

Why This Case Matters

Valentich matters because it is a documented aviation disappearance during a reported object encounter.

02 / the case

What is documented.

Documented

Valentich reported an unidentified object before disappearing

Documented

The Australian Department of Transport investigated

03 / what is debated

What remains contested.

Debated

The identity of the object

Debated

The cause of the disappearance

04 / what remains unverified

Beyond the record.

Unverified

Extraterrestrial origin

05 / what the record establishes

Keep the layers apart.

Record element

What it supports

What it does not settle

Witness report

A documented report exists.

The objective identity of the object.

Official investigation

That the case was investigated where documented.

That an extraordinary cause was proven.

Conventional reading

That a conventional explanation exists where documented.

That the conventional explanation closes the case.

06 / source room

Follow the paperwork.
Keep the claims apart.

Sources are kept in separate layers: official and contemporary material is documented; secondary UFO literature is treated as debated, not as primary evidence.

governmentAustralian Department of Transport investigation (1978)

Documented source.

primaryMelbourne ATC radio recordings

Documented source.

secondaryWikipedia: Valentich disappearance

Secondary / debated material.

Valentich DisappearanceDocumented report. Unresolved object.