Project 10073 Record Card: Ice Fall in Toccoa, Georgia

This document collection details the investigation into an incident on October 26, 1959, near Toccoa, Georgia, where a 40-50 pound square block of ice fell from a clear sky onto the farm of O. J. Lecroy. The event caused significant public interest and concern, with initial reports suggesting the ice might be radioactive after a local witness attempted to test it using photographic film. The Air Force, through the 63rd Troop Carrier Wing at Donaldson Air Force Base, initiated an investigation under Project 10073. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) coordinated with various agencies, including the Smithsonian Institute, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Bureau of Standards, to determine the origin of the ice. Early confusion regarding potential radioactivity was quickly dismissed by subsequent testing, including the use of a Geiger counter. The investigation concluded that the ice was not of natural origin but was instead 'artificial ice' formed by water leaking from a commercial DC-8 jet aircraft flying at high altitude. The water froze on the exterior of the aircraft and detached during the plane's descent. The final report, released in June 1960 by Representative James Davis, confirmed this finding, noting that the investigation involved a massive amount of study by three government agencies and resulted in a 40-page report. The incident serves as a documented example of the military's process for evaluating anomalous aerial phenomena that were ultimately attributed to aviation-related mechanical issues.