NUFORC Sighting 04106

Occurred: 1998-06-12 14:00 Local - Approximate
Reported: 1998-09-14 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 1 minute
No of observers: 2

Location: Halsey, OR, USA

Shape: Unknown

Loud noise, similar to that emmited when propane tanks on hot air balloons, but much louder. Skies bright, few clouds. Traveled between mach 4 and mach 10. Could not see object. Could only hear it.

My six year old son and I were working in the back yard when I heard a loud whooshing sound from approx. 10 miles NW of my location. At first I thought it might be the sound of a very large fire, such as a large farm structure burning. Then I noticed the sound was moving from NW to NNW. The sound then appeared to calm down for a portion of a minute. Next the sound began to move rapidly in my direction and passed almost directly overhead. Neither my son nor I could see anything, but I judged by the level of the noise that the source of the noise was either very low in altitude (500-1000 Ft.) or the object was very large and moving air like an object larger than several barns. The sound continued in a SSW direction for about 30-40 seconds and then appeared to travel beyond audible range. I estimate the distance traveled to be about 40 miles in under a minute. On a map this would have been approx. 10 miles SSW of Corvallis, OR. to the vicinity of Springfield, OR.. For the entire duration of this event, I could not see any flashes of metal, nor could I see a con-trail or any other evidence of a common aircraft. After I thought about this event for five or ten minutes, I decided to call air traffic control at the Eugene airport to see if they had noticed anything or had phone calls about an unusual event. Their reply was negative. I am reporting this event 3 months after the actual occurance, so the exact date and time are approximations. I would assume that the Eugene Airport should have record of my call.

Posted 1998-11-21