Category 11 Case Directory
  SIGHTINGS FROM AIRCRAFT 
 
  Preliminary Rating: 5  

                                   
     

AVCAT is a special project being conducted by NICAP, with the help and cooperation of the original compiler of AIRCAT, Dr. Richard Haines, and other sources, to create a comprehensive listing of sightings from aircraft with detailed documentation from these sources, including Projects SIGN, GRUDGE & BLUE BOOK.

DC-6A Crew Take Evasive Action
March 9, 1957
350 mi. NE of Jacksonville, Florida
4:33 a.m. AST
Duration ???
aircraft DC-6A
United States
 Commercial
3 observers
No EMI
No radar contact

Fran Ridge:
March 9, 1957; Nr. San Juan, Puerto Rico
Pan American Airways pilot took evasive action as fiery round, greenish-white object passed plane. [NICAP UFOE, V] Over a hundred documents were located by Dan Wilson on what appears to be a fireball meteor. The question looms in my mind as to why there were so many. There may be more to this case than first appears, but the lack of a duration doesn't help. But when the DC-6A took evasive action, that alone terminated what could have been a longer experience.

Dan Wilson:
March 9, 1957; 350 miles NE of Jacksonville, Florida (BB)
At 4:33 a.m. AST, Captain Matthew Van Winkle piloting a Pan American World Airways DC-6A airliner at a point approximately 350 miles NE of Jacksonville, Florida, observed a "burning greenish white round object" to the right of the aircraft that appeared to be on a collision course. Van Winkle then pulled the plane upward in a climb to avoid the object. This sudden maneuver caused some of the passengers to be thrown out of their seats resulting in some injuries. Co-pilot Dion W. Taylor and flight engineer John Washuta had observed the object also. The object according to the flight engineer, was a high intensity light to the right of the aircraft which appeared to stand still for approximately four seconds until it was lost to sight during the evasive action. (BB files)

Detailed reports and documents
reports/570309jacksonville_report.htm (Dan Wilson)

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