Cash-Landrum Incident
On December 29, 1980, Betty Cash, Vickie Landrum, and Colby Landrum encountered a diamond-shaped UFO emitting flames on a Texas highway. They were exposed to intense heat and later developed severe radiation-like symptoms. Military helicopters were seen around the object. The witnesses sued the U.S. government. Betty Cash suffered health problems until her death, maintaining the encounter was real.
The Cash-Landrum incident is one of the most well-documented UFO encounters involving physical injury to witnesses. Three people in Texas encountered a diamond-shaped craft that exposed them to intense heat, leaving them with severe, radiation-like symptoms. The presence of military helicopters suggested government involvement. The witnesses sued the U.S. government, and Betty Cash suffered health consequences until her death.
December 29, 1980
The encounter occurred on a winter evening:
Time: Approximately 9:00 PM.
Location: A rural highway near Huffman, Texas, about 30 miles northeast of Houston.
Witnesses: Betty Cash (52), Vickie Landrum (57), and Colby Landrum (7, Vickie’s grandson).
Activity: They were driving home from dinner.
The Witnesses
Three generations of a family were affected:
Betty Cash: The driver, a restaurant owner.
Vickie Landrum: Her friend and employee.
Colby Landrum: Vickie’s young grandson.
Character: Both women were practical, religious, and not prone to fantasy.
The Encounter
The object appeared suddenly:
Initial Sighting: They saw a bright light ahead through the trees.
The Object: As they got closer, they saw a diamond-shaped craft.
Position: It hovered above the road, blocking their path.
Features: It was brilliant, fiery, and emitting flames downward.
The Object
The craft was distinctly described:
Shape: Diamond or kite-shaped.
Size: Very large, perhaps 25-30 feet.
Flames: Periodic blasts of fire shot from the bottom.
Heat: Intense heat radiated from the object.
Sound: A roaring or beeping sound accompanied it.
The Heat
The thermal effects were severe:
Temperature: The heat was so intense it made the car too hot to touch.
Dashboard: The plastic dashboard softened from the heat.
Betty’s Exposure: Betty got out of the car to see better, exposing herself more.
Duration: They were near the object for approximately 10-20 minutes.
The Military Helicopters
Most remarkably, helicopters appeared:
Number: The witnesses reported 20-23 helicopters.
Type: Large, twin-rotor helicopters (CH-47 Chinooks were identified).
Formation: They appeared to be escorting or surrounding the craft.
Direction: The helicopters and object eventually moved away together.
The Aftermath
The physical effects began immediately:
Nausea: All three felt nauseated soon after.
Burns: They developed burn-like symptoms.
Hair Loss: Betty and Vickie experienced significant hair loss.
Eyes: Swollen, painful eyes affected all three.
Blisters: Betty developed large blisters on her skin.
Betty Cash’s Injuries
The driver suffered most severely:
Hospitalization: She was hospitalized multiple times.
Symptoms: Burns, hair loss, nausea, eye problems, and skin lesions.
Diagnosis: Doctors compared her symptoms to radiation exposure.
Long-term: She suffered health problems for the rest of her life.
Death: She died in 1998 on the anniversary of the encounter.
Medical Documentation
The injuries were documented:
Hospital Records: Medical records documented the unusual symptoms.
Doctors’ Assessments: Physicians noted the radiation-like effects.
No Explanation: Conventional causes couldn’t explain the symptoms.
Pattern: The symptoms matched ionizing radiation exposure.
The Investigation
Multiple parties investigated:
MUFON: UFO researchers documented the case thoroughly.
John Schuessler: An aerospace engineer led the civilian investigation.
Military Inquiry: Attempts were made to identify the helicopters.
Government Denial: The military denied any helicopters were in the area.
The Lawsuit
The witnesses sued the U.S. government:
Basis: They claimed a secret military project caused their injuries.
Damages: They sought compensation for medical expenses and suffering.
Denial: The government denied any involvement.
Dismissal: The lawsuit was dismissed for lack of evidence of government involvement.
The Helicopter Mystery
The military aircraft remain unexplained:
Identification: Witnesses and investigators identified the helicopters as military.
Denial: All military branches denied having helicopters in the area.
Records: No flight records confirmed the helicopters’ presence.
Mystery: If not military, whose helicopters were they?
John Schuessler’s Investigation
The aerospace engineer documented the case meticulously:
Technical Background: Schuessler worked for NASA contractors.
Investigation: He conducted a thorough, technical investigation.
Documentation: His work preserved the evidence.
Book: He published “The Cash-Landrum UFO Incident.”
Theories
Various explanations have been proposed:
Secret Aircraft: A classified experimental vehicle.
Accident: An unintentional exposure to a military test.
Conventional Explanation: Skeptics suggest a variety of mundane causes.
Unknown Craft: A genuinely unknown technology.
The Diamond Shape
The craft’s shape was unusual:
Description: Distinctly diamond-shaped, unlike typical disc reports.
Uniqueness: This shape is relatively rare in UFO reports.
Features: The shape and flame emissions suggest propulsion of some kind.
Unknown: No known aircraft matches the description.
Medical Expert Opinion
Doctors weighed in on the injuries:
Radiation Pattern: The symptoms resembled radiation exposure.
Burns: The burns were consistent with thermal and possibly nuclear radiation.
Long-term Effects: The lasting health problems supported serious exposure.
Cause Unknown: No conventional source for the radiation was identified.
Betty Cash’s Death
Her death added poignancy to the case:
Date: December 29, 1998 - exactly 18 years after the encounter.
Cause: Cancer, which she and others attributed to the encounter.
Belief: She maintained until death that the encounter was real.
Legacy: Her case remains a powerful example of UFO-related injury.
Legacy
The Cash-Landrum incident matters because:
- Medical documentation of injuries exists
- Multiple witnesses including a child
- Military helicopters were observed
- A lawsuit reached federal court
- Physical effects lasted decades
Whatever hovered over that Texas highway left three people physically scarred. Betty Cash paid with her health and, arguably, her life. The Cash-Landrum case remains the most well-documented case of UFO-related physical injury.
Sources
- Medical records
- John Schuessler investigation
- Court records
- Witness testimonies
- Cash-Landrum incident - Wikipedia