Yukon, Canada, Alaska area, March 1958March 1958

Insufficient Data

Summary

Several aircraft crews and ground observers across the Yukon, Canada and Alaska area reported seeing a meteor-like object on March 29, 1958. The sightings occurred almost simultaneously around 2027z (8:27 p.m.) and were spread across a 250-mile area that included locations near Northway, Haines, White Horse, and Watson Lake.

The object was described as flaming, or fireball-like. Observers reported it traveling in roughly a west to southwest direction and generally descending. The sighting lasted only a very short duration. Some observers noted a trail of white smoke, changes in color during flight, and an explosion into fragments. A few witnesses also reported hearing crackling or whistling noises. One Alaska Airlines pilot initially described the object as having short stubby wings but later retracted this statement after speaking with other pilots who had observed it.

The Air Force's investigation concluded the object was almost certainly a bolide, a type of meteorite commonly called a fireball. The analysis noted that the velocity of the object appeared considerably higher than that of any artificial satellite re-entry, and noted the phenomenon had been observed over a wide simultaneous area. The investigators also referenced a well-known fireball sighting that occurred across seven western U.S. states on October 10, 1957, suggesting this March event was of a similar natural meteorite character. The file indicates no compelling reason to conclude the object was anything other than a fireball, similar to other known natural occurrences.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, consisting of 18 pages.

Reported location

Yukon, Canada, Alaska area, March 1958

Date of incident

March 1958

State / country

? / XX

Page count

18 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 32

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 18

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10072 RECORD CARD i
1. DATE | 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS BRGY
SGNCLUSIO; ERE
| i i

i i 6) al : ; Li tas Callnan

; (Henna aini co Bul i Sunnie nl Yi Rion @anaday Aldska area 0 Probacly Belloon |
| | TURor Lianada, A.asxa area |! ded :

3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OB3EZRYATION 8 Possibly Balioon
{ | |
| 1 ey ~~ % % or 5 1 \ < i - H

: i edo fo PERE Ra] Do Ei 0 {O%Ground-VYisual iJ Ground-Radar d Wes Aircraft i
| : Sy Od Probaoly Aircraft

; ! ie On SN -ry I vA . ‘ a nssib \irer
bi ROME eT TL | HAOCAie Visual 0 Air-lntercept Radar Possibly Aircraft {
| 5. PHOTOS AEE PARC (I RC pees stem ero ope Ts ps y =
{ ay | = |X Was Astronemical JCS {

0 Yes | : 0 Probably Astronomical |
ti 13 No | Military & Civilian } 0 Possibly Astronomical bo
i Ee Ey a ieee Tp ee ae oe me
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION | 8 NUMBER OF 08JECTS | COURSE [3 Othar Hie
i EE abe]
i i {0 Insufficient Dara for Evaluation |
Roi TH gy Spline {0 Unknown
Sey 2 3ecCs Several | Yariable | |
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING El COMMENTS easy oR BAT ma
Several A/C crews & ground observers | It appears 3 1 gc f Lami f
: aw a meteor-13ke obj for a very | obj was sig 2d almost simultan- | i
snort duration fm several locations, | eously by sons withi - He 45s
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/ 18

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28977573