Disappearance of a Plane with Tasmanians Gregory Vaughan and Kim Worner Sparks Search Across Bass Strait

August 9, 2025 — A week has passed since a light aircraft carrying 72-year-old Gregory Vaughan, 66-year-old Kim Worner, and their dog, Molly, vanished over the skies of northern Tasmania. The incident has raised questions about the safety and tracking of private aircraft, especially in remote areas.

What Happened?

On Saturday, August 2, at 12:45 PM, Vaughan and Worner departed from George Town Airport, located about an hour north of their home in Deloraine, in a two-seater Bristell S-LSA plane. Their intended route was to make a fuel stop in regional Victoria before continuing to Hillston in central New South Wales.

However, the couple and their dog never arrived at their destination. Concerns began to grow when no radio call was heard from the plane, and by 5 PM, a formal search was initiated after they failed to land at Hillston Airport. Despite an extensive search involving helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, ships, and even the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, no sign of the plane or its occupants has been found.

Search Efforts and Tracking Devices

Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark said the best-case scenario is that the plane has landed somewhere. However, no distress call was made, and no active tracking devices were reportedly on board. The plane has not shown up on flight radar maps, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current tracking systems.

Modern aircraft are typically equipped with tracking devices such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) or transponders, but neither signal appears to have been detected from Vaughan’s plane. According to CASA rules, private pilots must carry a registered distress beacon when flying more than 50 nautical miles from land, which was the case here, as Bass Strait is over 220 nautical miles wide at its narrowest point.

Rules for Private Pilots

David McCarthy, president of the Wynyard Aero Club, explained that unless entering controlled airspace, private pilots are not required to log flight plans, make radio calls, or have transponders. However, pilots are advised to notify a responsible person of their flight plans and expected return time.

Recreational Aviation Australia chair Michael Monck confirmed that satellite trackers are not required in any airspace and that transponders are only mandatory in controlled airspace. He emphasized that recreational pilots undergo extensive training, and the aviation community generally considers flying to be a safe activity.

Debating Regulation and Safety

While some argue that increased regulation could improve safety, others, including McCarthy and Monck, believe it could add unnecessary costs and detract from the joy of flying. They argue that aviation is already incredibly safe, and that the most dangerous part of the journey is often the drive to the airport.

Nevertheless, both acknowledge that there is always a level of risk involved in flying, and that things can go wrong, even for experienced pilots. The disappearance of Vaughan, Worner, and their dog has sparked a renewed conversation about the balance between safety and freedom in private aviation.

Ongoing Search

Authorities continue to search the northern and northeastern coasts of Tasmania for any sign of the missing plane. Police remain hopeful that the plane may have landed somewhere and that the trio are safe.

As the search continues, the incident has highlighted the need for greater awareness and discussion about the rules, risks, and responsibilities of private aviation in Australia.