Police remain cautiously optimistic as efforts continue to locate a married couple and their dog aboard a missing light plane.
No distress call was made from the green two-seater plane which disappeared during a flight across Bass Strait, Tasmania Police Northern Commander Marco Ghedini said.
Family members raised the alarm about 5pm on Saturday when the plane, carrying a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s from northern Tasmania, failed to arrive at its destination.
The light aircraft left George Town airport in Tasmania's north about 12.45pm on Saturday and was headed to Hillston Airport in central western NSW, via Leongatha in Victoria's southeast.
An extensive search operation continues, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority co-ordinating efforts in northern Tasmania, Bass Strait and southern Victoria.
Several boat crews are also scouring the waters for the missing pair.
"We remain optimistic at this stage and we are still hopeful for a very positive outcome," Mr Ghedini told reporters on Monday.
"As these events unfold, it becomes a concern when we haven't located an aircraft or persons or debris, but we do remain hopeful."
The details and make of the plane were not shared.
Tasmania Police Duty Inspector Nick Clark on Sunday revealed the pilot was "very experienced", but added he was flying a plane that was "relatively new to him".
"The current owner and pilot of the plane had only purchased the plane three or four months ago," he said.
