Mysteries Department
Sign inRequest access
0

Do the famous cases have ordinary explanations?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·4 answers·0·0 following
Answered: Each case, once traced to contemporary records, has an ordinary explanation or was misreported, misdated or…Passed its tests and review.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. Each case, once traced to contemporary records, has an ordinary explanation or was misreported, misdated or… leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, one is answered.

Why it matters

The legend is a list of cases. Kusche's research went to the contemporary record for each and reported that almost all were explained, misplaced or misreported⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 4

Evidence: 3 for
Most likely
Evidence: 1 for
Most likely
None of these.
Failed a test; not refuted outright
Evidence: none yet
Disputed
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Disputed

History

  1. Berlitz puts forward: some well-documented cases cannot be explained by ordinary causes.
  2. Berlitz: berlitz presents the losses as unexplained.For: Some well-documented cases cannot be explained by ordinary causes.
  3. Kusche puts forward: each case, once traced to contemporary records, has an ordinary explanation or was misreported, misdated or…
  4. Kusche puts forward: most cases are ordinary, and the residue is unexplained only because no information about them exists.
  5. Kusche: kusche found logical explanations for almost all incidents once researched.For: Each case, once traced to contemporary records, has an ordinary explanation or was misreported, misdated or…
  6. Kusche: kusche reports that the few unsolved incidents are those for which no information can be found.For: Most cases are ordinary, and the residue is unexplained only because no information about them exists.
  7. Kusche: kusche found the mysterious details came from later retellings.Against: Some well-documented cases cannot be explained by ordinary causes.
  8. Wright & Ryan: flight 19's records show a navigation failure, fuel exhaustion and a night ditching in rough seas.For: Each case, once traced to contemporary records, has an ordinary explanation or was misreported, misdated or…
  9. Asked on this site
Add evidence
1What it bears on2What you found3Where it comes from
Which answer?
Does it count for or against it?
In a sentence, what did you find?
What you found optional
Where it comes from optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Propose an answer
Your answer, in a sentence
What would rule it out? optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Ask a sub-question
Your question
Why it would help optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Add a source
The source
What it shows about this question optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.

Discussion 0

Add to the discussion