733667-001-003-0035

325 Langton Avenue Los Altos, CA 94022 January 18, 1987 Paul Steucke FAA - AALSD 701C Street Box 14 Anchorage, Alaska 99513 Dear Paul: Tnis is to pass on some further information concerning the unusual visual/radar sighting of November 17, 1986 by the JAL crew of flight 1628, By now your office is probably calming down a bit. Jy work load has been consistently high since getting involved inthis particular incident. I have had an excellent opportunity to talk with Capt. Terauchi and both flight crew on United Flight 69. Iam still awaiting some details on the winds aloft and satellite photographs. For your information, this JAL flight originated in New York, The JAL crew boarded the B-747 in Paris with a gross take-off weight of about 770, 000 pounds which explains why they had to refuel in Keflavik, Iceland (not Reykjevk) and again in Anchorage. When asked specifically about seeing any green lights associated with the unknown, Capt. Terauchi steadfastly said "no." He also said that the two rectangular lighted pathes seemed to wobble a little while seeming to nove together through the air...as if they shared a common center of mass. His X-band on-board radar was on the 20 nile scale. I still amtrying to determine the hull number for this aircraft through JAL contacts at SFO. Iam also making arrangements to interview the other two JAL crewmen, Capt. Terauchi said that all of the lights on the “object' went off together and completely, rather than in some random sequence, For the human eye to perceive a complete ''OFF" of such lights they likely would have had to stay off for from 100 - 200 milliseconds. Tungsten light sources probably couldn't do this so these lights were more probably gas discharge (or other) sources of luminous radiation. His use of the term "amber' and rocket nozzle yellowish-white strongly suggests a broad spectrum source with nvany different wavelengths rather than so-called line spectra like mnercury or xenon (etc.) sources. Regarding the VHF radio static, my sources indicate that this really isn't that unusual in that vicinity (on 120.6 & 133.1 MH,), however, Capt. Terauchi said that he had never heard this type of static before in his aviation career? Tnis is puzzling. Due to the angular elevation of the lights above the local horizon it is quite unlikely that they were reflections from ground lights, particularly considering the exceptional clarity of the air that evening, My preliminary calculations show the sun to be about 8 - 10 below the norizon 0216Z (6:16 pm local) with Venus below the horizon, ars very dim (My, = 0,2) inthe ESE, and Jupiter very intense (1... = -2,1) in the SE at 8.5 above the local horizon, I would greatly appreciate a favor if it is possible, I] am trying to obtain a copy of the tape (voice) transcript between JAL/1628 and Anchorage md for Fairbanks ATC on the night in question, It would greatly clarify my flight-