Object Falls From the Sky, Hits Washington Homeowner’s Roof

— -- A mysterious object that fell from the sky and onto the roof of a homeowner in Washington state appears to be a $3 piece of airplane equipment.

Laurie Pizzi, of Buckley, Washington, said she was standing outside when something that looked like a small hubcap fell out of the sky.

“I was lucky that it hit there and not here," Pizzi told local ABC station KOMO-TV as she pointed to her head. “I was right there and it just went thud.”

Pizzi’s home is located in the path of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and a small, private airstrip is also located just a quarter mile from her home, according to KOMO-TV.

The sales director at Spencer Aircraft, a local aviation supply store, confirmed to ABC News that the object that fell onto Pizzi’s home appears to be an inspection cover.

The $3 piece of equipment is used to cover a plane’s access hole.

“They’re very commonly used on general aviation aircraft,” Dan Sandberg said. “All that has to happen for them to fly off is the edge of the cover gets caught in the air stream and the air stream is strong enough to remove those covers.”

Sandberg said inspection covers can be held together by screws or metal tabs. The cover that landed on Pizzi’s property appears to have been the latter.

“We sell them in high enough volume and I’ve talked to enough pilots to know that it’s not uncommon for them to fall off. What’s unusual is for it to fall on someone’s house,” Sandberg said. “It’s a big sky and typically they don’t fall on a house or a roof.”

Pizzi, who could not be reached by ABC News, was not injured and said her roof only sustained minimal damage.

“I understand her concern because with the altitude of the plane I could imagine it could cause harm,” Sandberg said.