733667-001-030-0005

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Alaskan Region FSDO-63 4510 W. Ine'l. Airport Road, Suite 302 Anchorage, Alaska 99502-1088 STATEMENT OF INTERVIEW WITH ALASKA AIRLINES CREW January 29, 1987 at 1930 AST At approximately 1900 on January 29, 1987, I received a call from Anchorage Center Manager, stating that Alaska Airlines Flight No. 53 had reported to Anchorage Center that it had seen a target on their weather radar and asked if the Center had any other aircraft operating in the area. 1 informed the ARTCC Manager that I would interview the crew at Anchorage International Airport. I interviewed the crew at Alaska Airlines Operations on January 29, 1987 at approximately 1930 AST. The crew stated that they had departed Nome, Alaska at 1800 enroute to Anchorge. The incident happened approximately 60 miles west of McGrath, Alaska. The aircraft was operating on a heading of East at an altitude of 35,000 feet and an airspeed of Mach .73. The weather was clear and the visibility was unlimited. At approximately 1835 AST the crew noticed a return on the weather radar at their 12 o'clock position and at a range of 25 miles. Both pilots stated that the target was strong and bright. They both looked outside and could not see any lights or targets. Looking back at the radar the target had moved approximately 5 miles further ahead of them to approximately 30 miles. Each sweep of the radar (approximately 1 second) the target would move 5 miles further ahead of them until it went off the radar scope at 50 miles. The captain stated that since the military was having "war games" in the area that it was probably a USAF Aircraft going at a very high rate of speed. He then called Anchorage Center and asked the controller if there was any reported aircraft in the area and reported what he had seen. The area is not within radar coverage of the Anchorage ARTCC. The controller on duty checked with the USAF (Alaska Air Command) and was told the they did not have aircraft operating in that area at that time. . ; A Neem Richard 0. Gordon “ Manager AAL FSDO-63