The 1992 Southaven Park UFO Crash
First Published: January 19, 2019 Last updated: February 9th, 2019 Written by: Marcus Lowth
Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes Posted in: Conspiracy
An apparent UFO crash at Southaven Park in South Haven, Long Island in New York in November 1992 was broken to the world by the little-known UFO research group, the ‘Long Island UFO Network’. They would research and investigate the incident for six months. By the early summer of 1993, they had “bit by bit” able to “put the picture together”.
The incident, though, would take a dark turn, amid charges of attempted murder of government officials, conspiracies involving international intelligence agencies, and ultimately, the incarceration of several of the group’s members, including the indefinite detaining of the chairman of the group. Was this a case of a man and his “delusional” fantasies leaking into the real world with potentially lethal consequences to others? Or have we witnessed the persecution of a person who, as cliché as it sounds, “got a little too close to the truth” of the dark goings-on of international shadow governments?
It is an interesting case and one that could quite easily sit within either of those scenarios. And, if there is any truth to the claims of connections to dark, government conspiracies, it is a case that should not only concern us, but might allow us to push the door open a little more on the apparent dark workings of the shadow intelligence agencies.
“Something Crashed Into The Park That Night!”
According to the chairman of the Long Island UFO Network, John Ford, the group “knew something crashed into the park that night” at a little after 7 pm on 24th November 1992. They had received several reports from people driving along Sunrise Highway, many claiming to have seen something – possibly a small plane – coming to the ground somewhere in Southaven Park. Furthermore, many residents in the area would also report “strange lights” from the area, as well as “loud rumbling sounds”.
Almost immediately, both the local and park police set up road blocks along the highway. An official report of a “fire in the park” was the reason. And the park would remain closed for several days after the incident. One resident would even report that for almost a week following the apparent crash, they would experience strange “power surges” at their home.
Even stranger, the phone would ring at random times of the day. However, there was always no one on the other end of the line. This is an interesting detail. While there is no apparent reports of such sightings at the time near South Haven, these chilling phone calls are reminiscent of the Mothman sightings of the mid-1960s. Many of the Mothman legends intertwine with UFO activity. The same witness would state that “for the next few days, there were a lot of military helicopters going over the park”.
Official records of Southaven Park claim that the area remained shut from 25th to the 28th November for “duck hunting”. Furthermore, while there was a fire, they claim the Brookhaven National Laboratory Fire Department neutralized it. It would be, though, almost a week before the reopening of the grounds fully to the public. Including Ford and his research team.
A Definite Disturbance And Strange Readings!
When they ventured into Southaven Park to investigate they would find evidence of a significant disturbance to the area. According to Ford, they would discover “an area that was burned out and several trees were bent over”. A further area appeared as though “it had been plowed by machinery”.
Of more interest to the investigators, though, were “higher than normal radiation readings” throughout the park. And furthermore, the metal fence line, which maintains a magnetic charge directly from the Earth “had no magnetic reading”. Something, whatever it might have been, was responsible for these abnormal details.
There were also several more corroborating sightings of strange activity that Saturday evening in November 1992. Many of which would share the same, and increasingly dark details. Many would make claims of dark, unmarked helicopters appearing in the area in the immediate aftermath of the apparent crash. Furthermore, military style roadblocks began appearing equally quickly. One witness would tell of only just making it out of the area before the blocking of his last exit. Equally mystifying was the presence of plain-clothed, all-black officers at many of the road blocks.
Even stranger were reports of sudden failing or bizarre activity involving electrical equipment throughout many of the residential neighborhoods. One particularly intriguing report claims of refused entry to several New York State Police vehicles. This was denied by the police themselves. However, an apparent “inside source” to one UFO investigator would claim it to be true.
It is also perhaps interesting that many of those who claim to have witnessed the craft before the crash would state it to be a “tube” or cylindrical shape. This would perhaps also explain why many believed initially that the object was a small plane. Of all the sightings, however, one would stand out.
A White Flash That Made Night Appear As Day
One of the motorists on Sunrise Highway, an unnamed driver, would claim to have witnessed a tubular shaped craft over the trees near the road. They would describe “two large blue lights” at each end of the craft, as well as a “bright white light” in the middle. The exterior was a “dull metallic grey”. After it made a sudden swerve over the road itself, it appeared to crash in the park area. Upon the apparent impact, a hugely bright white flash made the night appear as day for a second.
Even stranger were the events he would witness after turning his car around to head back the way he came so to investigate for survivors. He immediately saw military-style helicopters over the highway and park area. Furthermore, there were several “personnel” setting up blockades at the end of the road. Bizarrely, though, none of the men, nor the helicopters circling above had any symbol, flag, or logo as to why they were. Both the personnel’s attire and the vehicles were all a simple, but strangely ominous deep black.
He would quietly negotiate the chaos, managing to make his way to Gerard Avenue. While there, he would note how many of the residents, some of whom were in the street watching the blazing flames somewhere deep in the woodland, were experiencing strange problems with the electrics and television receptions. Even more chilling were the phone calls with no one on the line.
However, it is the bizarre events in the following years that would take this apparent case of a UFO crash into the realms of dark conspiracies.
A Dark And Sudden Twist
In 1996, following several years of increasingly blunt accusations from Ford against local government and federal officials, mainly revolving around their “covering-up” of UFO activity and recovered UFO crafts, he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. According to the charges, he and two other men conspired to poison local Republican officials, John Powell, Fred Towle, and Anthony Gazzola.
While his two accomplices, Joseph Mazzuchelli and Edward Zabo, would plead guilty to the charges, Ford would eventually be found unfit to stand trial. He was labeled “delusional” and remanded in a New York state psychiatric facility. He remains there at the time of writing having lodged several appeals, the latest of which is upcoming. Should authorities ever find him suitable to stand trial, he will face up to 75 years in jail if found guilty.
Incidentally, both of the men were members of the Long Island UFO Network. And both would receive “lesser sentences” for the part in the plan. Whether we should put any credence in the statement or not, in the years following his arrest and indefinite incarceration, Ford would state that Mazzuchelli was an officer of Mossad intelligence, insinuating that he had infiltrated the UFO organization. At the same time, Ford would claim he himself was a CIA “asset”, but as he was “unofficially” working for the agency, there will be no records of his service there. Which, according to Ford, stretched back almost three decades.
The evidence against Ford would appear, at least on the surface, to be pretty damning. A tape recording of the three discussing the plot surfaced. Made, it would appear, by a fourth person who was asked to join in on the plan. He instead, took the recording to the authorities leading to their eventual arrest.
John Ford
“Dozens Of Weapons” And “Militia Literature”
Upon searching Ford’s home authorities would find “dozens of weapons” as well as “thousands of rounds of ammunition”. Also discovered was substantial reading material which the media would call, “militia literature”.
Not everyone, however, is as convinced with the charges against Ford. And indeed, his writings while incarcerated and his understanding of his surroundings and situation would suggest a person who far from “delusional”. However, to accept that Ford is the victim of a “framing” we’d have to assume the recording is fake. Or the person behind it was “on the inside” with the authorities.
Perhaps the public perception of the group, one that was certainly aided by the “militia literature” connections in the media. To some, this was the most unlikely detail of the whole scenario. And it is one that, at least according to some, was purposely used by authorities, through the media platforms, against any group who questioned too much the activities of the government. Such incidents as the Waco Siege revolve, rightly or wrongly, around this notion of a sect with military capabilities.
It certainly appears to be a case with little middle ground. Is the entire incident the product of the “ravings” of a paranoid mind? Or, might it be that John Ford really was “set up” for, intentionally or not, looking into something that “they” didn’t wish him access to?
The “Forest Fire” Of East End Destroyed Evidence Of Another UFO Crash?
All three of the men involved very publicly accused local and federal government officials of actively covering up several cases of crashed UFOs. Including the Southaven Park incident. As well as hiding further evidence of extraterrestrial activity on Earth. One statement would even suggest a purposeful “downing” of an alien craft. An incident that would unfold at the orders of these dark and unseen authority figures.
Then, the incident and events that followed would get even stranger. Ford would state clearly from his secure facility that his case is a “frame-up. And a smear tactic to destroy my UFO organization and to neutralize my effectiveness”. He would then state that it wasn’t the UFO crash in 1992 that had led him to his predicament. Rather, it was the evidence in his possession regarding the 1995 East End Forest Fires. That they were very much deliberate. This was “to cover up the crash of a large disc near Suffolk Community College”.
This is an interesting notion. Particularly given the many forest and wild fires to recently strike areas of the United States. While they are most likely the result of increasingly hot weather, there are many who view them with suspicion. What if there was a need to destroy evidence of something in these vast and public areas? Such a raging inferno as the wildfires of recent times would certainly have the desired outcome.
He would then state there was a “heavy intelligence presence” in his case. And that people should speak to Preston Nichols about his claims. What is interesting here, Nichols is also a member of the Long Island UFO Network. He is also the very same Preston Nichols who leaked information about the Project Montauk conspiracies.
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About Marcus Lowth
Marcus Lowth is a writer with a love for anything interesting, from UFOs, aliens, and the Ancient Astronaut Theory, to the paranormal, general conspiracies and unsolved mysteries. He also has a passion for film, music, and the NFL. Marcus has been Editor-in-Chief at UFO Insight for several years due to his excellent knowledge in these fields. Marcus also regularly appears as an expert on radio talk shows discussing these topics.
You can contact Marcus via email.