◆ SpookStack

Incident: 224 At 1745 on 8 Dec Lg, Spec Agents STAHL & NEYF, both rated pilots, took off from Kirtland AP Base in a T-7 type aircraft. At 1833 while flying at an indicated altitude of 12,500 feet, mean sea level, approximately 5,000 feet above terrain, a strange phenomenon was observed. Beact position of the aircraft at time of observation wes 35° 3l' 104° 51' 4, approximately 20 miles east of Las Vegas, N. K., ratio sonde station. Aircraft wus on a compass course of a indicated air-speed was 160 MPH Gn tern speed approx 190 ‘= /A STABL was pilot and seoted on the left side of cockpit, 5/A NEEF first observed the object an? w split sec nd later S/A STAFL saw it. It was 2,000 ft bigher than the plane or 13,500 ft above mean sea level and was approaching the plane at a ranid rate of speed from approximately 30° to the left of course, from 60° FRE, to 210° wow, The object was similar in appearance to @ burning green fl«re oftomon use in the Air Porces. However, the light wae much more intense and the object appeared considerably than a normal flare. Ho estimate could be maie of the distance or size of the object since no other object was visible won which to base a comparieon. It was definitely larg r than a snooting star, meteor or flere. ‘The trajectory of the object when first signted wis almost flat and parallel to the earth. The pees ri listed approximately 2 seconis at the end of which time the object seemed to burn cut. The trajectory then dropped off rapidly and a trail of glowing fragment: reddish orange in color wos observed falling toward the ground. There fragments were visible for leas than a second Defore disappearing. ‘The phenomenon tensity as to be visible from the very moment it ignited and was observed @ snlit second later. It w.s not possible for the phenomenon to been visible for longer than « split’ second before observation. (See “e under"Significent Differences Between the Fireballs Observed in tne Interval Dec 5-13 & Typical Meteors" = Incident 227) a We ody ang