The Falcon Lake Incident
A prospector walked up to a landed craft in the Manitoba woods and came away with burns in a grid pattern on his chest.
What was reported
Stefan Michalak, an amateur prospector, was looking for quartz near Falcon Lake on 20 May 1967 when, he said, two glowing, cigar-shaped objects appeared and one landed on a rock nearby. He heard voices and a whirring sound and walked over to it.
When he touched the side of the craft, his glove melted. The craft turned, and a blast of hot air from a vent in its side set his shirt on fire. He was left with burns in a grid-like pattern on his chest and felt ill for weeks.
Explanations offered
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the military investigated, and traces of radioactivity were found at the site, though some thought these could have a natural source. Sceptics have suggested a hoax or an accident with something else; supporters point to his consistent story and medical records. Canadian government files list the case as unexplained.
- When
- 20 May 1967
- Where
- Near Falcon Lake, Whiteshell, Manitoba, Canada
- Witnesses
- Stefan Michalak
- Status
- Unexplained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.