FINAL REPORT DATE: April 14 2016
FIELD INVESTIGATOR ID NUMBER: 22995
CASE NUMBER: 74386
BGE RESULTS: Total Certainty Index is at 4.79% / value of 0.0479
LATITUDE / LONGITUDE: 42.535134, -88.143775
SYNOPSIS: “Object flew over my car at low altitude with no noise at high rate of speed.”
OBJECT DESCRIPTION: Glowing circular object estimated at 20’ (+/- 10’) in diameter moved towards the west on a level path at treetop level
WITNESS INTERVIEW / STATEMENTS: Contact with the witness initiated on April 6 2016 via email, with a follow-up on April 13; witness responded on that date. The witness provided additional detail as to his location at the time of the event as well as the movement of the object (as described above). Please see additional information below regarding location.
NATURAL PHENOMENA OR MAN MADE: At the time of this writing, I have been unable to find any corresponding activity or action which would describe this as being man made. It should be noted that there are six airports within a ten mile radius of the sighting’s location (three within six miles), with two airports being within a direct path of each other: Winfield and Lake Geneva Aire Estates. However, this path is roughly 1400 feet from the events location, and the event’s location is too far away from either airport to justify such a low altitude; in addition, it appears that Winfield is a seasonal airfield, and as such, would not be operational at this time.
There is one natural phenomena which may tie into this event: on the date of the report, there were two reports submitted to the American Meteor Society of a fireball traversing the sky within the early evening hours, however, it is the understanding of the investigator that such an object would not be able to be seen at these distances, considering the trajectory. It could be that there were separate objects within this meteor sighting, but that is simply conjecture.
As such, this investigator would have to consider this as being unexplained at this time.
SOURCES:
http://www.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/event/2016/492https://www.google.com/mapshttps://www.wunderground.com/history/***
WEATHER INFORMATION: 30*F, windchill at 25*F, dew point at 24*F; 79% humidity, barometric pressure at 30.14”; winds were SSW at 4.6MPH, with clear skies and a visibility of 10 miles
***
LOCATION: Witness was stopped on Camp Lake Road, heading west, at the T intersection with 276th Avenue. Along the objects flight path there is a cluster of trees to the north of the intersection, with a series of buildings and another tree cluster to the north north west (of the witness). Winfield Airport is approximately six miles to the west of this location, but as previously stated, should be removed from consideration.
A map of the area has been attached to this report, indicating relative locations of the witness / object, and directions of movement.
***
EVIDENCE: There is no evidence, physical, photographic, or otherwise, related to this event.
***
WITNESS CREDIBILITY: The witness seems direct and to the point; he did not venture to give opinions or beliefs. Educational background indicates there is some college level experience, with his occupation being self described as executive.
***
CORRELATING CASES: There are no correlating cases of this nature at this time.
***
CONCLUSION: While the object itself is unknown or unexplained, this investigator believes that it may be related to the meteor(s) seen in both southern Michigan and northern Illinois on this date. Not only does the date match, but the times seem to correspond as well, all being within an hour of each other (even considering the difference in time zones). The appearance of the object, the trajectory, and behavior all seem to match as well; as reported on the American Meteor Society website, those objects had no glow or visible tail. However, it should be noted that this would give, at a minimum, about a 70 mile spread if this were in fact meteors from a common source, and that the witness described the object as being around 20’ in diameter.
As such, though I want to say that this, in all likelihood, is related to the meteor as described on the AMS website, I will err on the side of caution and call this unknown.