Crew interview notes, FAA Form 1600-32

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
AIR TPIANSPORTATION .SECURITY
As per telephonic request fran FS00-63, the following are the events
which took place on Novanber 17, 1986 and were taken fran my personal
IX>tes during the interview: Resporrled to Japan Airlines station
office as instructed by Manager (James S. Derry), Alil.r-700. Myself
and Jim Derry intervier.-.ied the crew of JAL Flight 1628, which reported
the sighting of unidentified air ·traffic. The flight crew consisted
of the captain, Kenju Terauchi, First Officer Takanori Tamefuji ~. and
Flight Engineer Yoshie Tsukuda. captain Terauchi stated the cargo
only flight had departed Reykjavik, Icelaric1.. captain Terauchi stated
he first sited (visually) the unidentified air traffic (UAT) in the
vacinity of Potat intersection and the ADIZ. The aircraft he was
piloting (B7 47) was at flight level 390, airspeed 0. 84 Mach. Captain
Terauchi indicated the UAT was in front of his aircraft at a distance
of approximately seven ·to eight nautical miles for approximately 12
minutes. The Captain stated the distance was indicated by the onl:oard
Berrlix color radar. Captain Terauchi stated that while he had a
visual on the UAT, he spotted yellow, amber and green lights, and a
rotating beacon, but IX> red lights. The Captain said there were two
distinct sets of lights, but appeared to be joined together (as fixed
to one object). Captian Terauchi ascertained through visual sighting
and radar, that the UAT was~ in size to a B747, possibly larger.
Captain Terauchi stated that during the visual sighting, the lights of
the UAT changed fran a horizontal position to a vertical position and
had positioned itself fran in front of the B7 47 to port side. The
UAT stayed on the port side for approximnately 35 minutes.
Captain Terauchi said he was cx::mmmicating with AIID:C personnel during
the sighting. The captain stated he requested, and received, pennission
to perfo:an a 360 degree turn while in the vacinity of Fairbanks, Alaska,
which he had a visual on. Captain Terauchi stated the UAT maintained
its position on the port side during the turn. Captain Terauchi stated
visual sight of the UAT was lost approximately 40 nautical miles north
of Talkeetna, while continuing on to Anchorage.
Additional infonnation regarding the flight:
Captain Terauchi stated there was static during VHF ccmnunications with
the Aim:::c.
Captain Terauchi indicated there was erratic novarent with lights of the
UAT dur.i.ng the visual contact.
Navigation was being perfm::rred by coupling of the on}:x:)ard IlJS' s.
INTERVI EWEO/REVI EWEO ON !_bv~_]. 7-I ~986 __ - __ , AT Anchorage, Alaska
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BY Ronald E. Mickle, FAA S/A
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FAA Form 1600-32·1 12.731
GPO 11•2•1111•
FILE NO. ------~---·
FOR OFFICIAL USE OHL Y ·
(Public availobl/lty to&. de-
tennln.0 unJer S U. S. C. 552)