The Aurora Texas UFO Crash

On April 17, 1897, during the Great Airship Wave, an airship allegedly crashed into a windmill on a farm in Aurora, Texas. The pilot was reportedly killed, his body recovered, and buried in the local cemetery. The story—published in a newspaper at the time—has been investigated for over a century.

The Story

According to the Dallas Morning News:

• An airship struck a windmill
• It exploded
• A small pilot was found dead
• Papers on the body were indecipherable
• The pilot was “not an inhabitant of this world”

S.E. Haydon’s Article

Local correspondent S.E. Haydon wrote:

• The airship had been traveling north
• It struck Judge Proctor’s windmill
• The explosion destroyed the craft
• Debris was scattered over several acres

The Pilot

The article described:

• A small being, badly disfigured
• Papers with unknown writing
• “Evidently the pilot of the ship”
• Buried with Christian rites in Aurora Cemetery

The Great Airship Wave

The Aurora crash occurred during:

• The 1896-1897 mystery airship wave
• Thousands reported similar craft across the US
• Years before powered flight
• An era of newspaper sensationalism

Was It Real?

The story has been questioned:

• S.E. Haydon may have fabricated it
• Some contemporaries called it a hoax
• The town was declining and needed attention
• Yellow journalism was common

Evidence For

Supporters point to:

• Multiple elderly residents who recall the story
• A grave marked with a small headstone
• Metal fragments found in an old well
• Unusual readings from ground scans

The Grave

The alleged burial site:

• Is in Aurora Cemetery
• A small headstone once marked it
• The stone was stolen in the 1970s
• Excavation has been refused by the town

Investigation Attempts

Researchers have tried:

• Metal detector surveys
• Ground-penetrating radar
• Attempts to exhume
• All blocked by town authorities

The Metal Fragments

Fragments from the well:

• Were analyzed
• Showed unusual composition (aluminum)
• Aluminum was rare in 1897
• But this could have other explanations

Texas Historical Marker

The Texas Historical Commission:

• Placed a marker in Aurora
• It mentions the alleged crash
• Calls it “legend”
• Doesn’t confirm or deny the story

Significance

The Aurora case is significant for:

• Occurring during the airship wave
• Predating modern UFO era by 50 years
• Alleged body recovery
• Ongoing investigation attempts
• Official historical recognition

Legacy

Whether hoax, legend, or genuine crash, the Aurora incident has become Texas UFO lore. The alleged burial continues to intrigue researchers, and the town—now grown—still guards its cemetery mystery.