NUFORC Sighting 05352

Occurred: 1998-11-23 22:30 Local
Reported: 1998-11-23 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 10seconds
No of observers: 4

Location: Carbondale, IL, USA

Shape: Changing
Characteristics: Lights on object, Aura or haze around object

An unidentified flying object sited over Carbondale Illinois. The object travelled from North to South in a direct path at a speed that I could not define, maybe over Mach 3. The aircraft was out of sight within ten seconds from beginning to end. It was orange to orange white in color. There were three other witnesses. I witnessed a meteor shower only a few days before, an event created by mother nature that I never thought could have been topped. However, the event I witnessed tonight had no trailing particles and traveled as fast as I have ever seen within our atmosphere. The event seemed to be "man made", not a natural annomoly.

At approximetaly 10:30 P.M. on November 23, 1998, myself and three other witnesses saw an unidentified flying object travelling in a direct path from North to South at a very high speed slightly to the West of us. We were standing outside behind the house at ((address deleted)) Street in Carbondale, Illinios. The craft appeared to be glowing orange to orange/white in color, and had two distinct sources of light. One light possitioned on the West side of the craft, and the other on the East. Both balls of light seemed to be connected to each other, but there was no distinct divider or connection between the two. However, the two sources of light appeared to be illuminating from one distinct aircraft. The incident from beginning to end lasted about ten seconds. Also, from my point of view, the object was traveling at a height of between 20,000 and 40,000 feet. I am a private pilot with almost 200 hours of flight time, and am working on my instrument rating. I have been to the Oshkosh Air Show and have seen F-14 jets flying, as well as F-18s taking off from Springfield, Illinois, as well as one F-18 flying over Carbondale a short time ago. However, I have never witnessed any aircraft traveling at the rate of the one seen tonight. I am convinced by the speed and peculiar light arrangement that the aircraft witnessed tonight was either military or totally unidentified. I must also say that while almost directly over head the ball of light on the West side of the Craft changed positions with the ball of light on the east side of the craft. That is, two balls of light were connected to each by no divider. The most miraculous thing that we saw, was the ball of light to the west pass infront of the ball of light to the east and change positions with it at full speed. In essence, the aircraft spun horizontally 180 degrees while traveling in a straigjht line, as if the craft suddenly spun around backwards, but continued to fly in the original direction of flight at the same speed. The craft ! never altered directiion, and flew in the same flight path, but turned around directly above our position on earth as if it could fly forward and backwards with the same flight characteristics. The lights of the craft were of one color which does not satisfy Federal Aviation Regulations of having anti-collision lighting systems, stroble lighting systems, or landing light systems as required on normal civillian aircraft. As a Private Pilot and an experienced person of the flight environment, I feel that what I have witnessed tonight could have either been a Military flight or an Unidentified Flying Object, but under no circumstances was it a civilian flight. I called Collumbia Flight Service first to see if they had any knowledge of the aircraft that I had just witnessed, and they gave me a negative response. However, they directed me to the number for the U.F.O. Reporting Center where I left a recorded message. I also attempted to contact Scott Airforce Base and Kansas City Flight Center to inquire about the incident. There was no answer at either of these facilities, but shortly thereafter I came in contact with Peter Davenport, the Director of the National UFO Reporting Center in Seattle, Washington. He returned my message. I have three other witnesses who saw the incident and have there own account of the story, but I was the first one to notice the event. I am fully willing to cooperate to the best of my capabilities regarding this matter, and can be reached at any time at my Carbondale address or telephone number. Please contact me for further details or specific information. This has already been a fulfilling experience, one that I will never forget. Thank you for your time and understaniding regarding this matter. Hopefully, everything we have encountered tonight will only serve to further the human race. Sincerely, ((Name deleted)) Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Posted 1999-02-16

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