NUFORC Sighting 05012

Occurred: 1997-09-10 19:00 Local - Approximate
Reported: 1998-12-06 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 60 minutes +
No of observers: 2

Location: Alta Loma, CA, USA

Shape: Circle

Very bright circular object about 1500 to 2000 above ground level very slowly moving to the southwest.

A large circular objected was seen about 1500 feet agl over the lower mountain area due south of MT. Baldy. I was coming down the mountain and was about 6 miles north of Alta Loma California when I and my partner observed the bright circular object appearing to maintain both it's altitude and position. We pulled over to the side of the road and I inspected the object with 10X50 binoculars, but could dicern no further detail because of the extremely bright "reflection." We initially thought the object was a weather or scientific balloon and that it was reflecting the sun - over the horizon. Given the approximate 2000 asl of the hills I estimate the object to have been about 3500 to 4000 feet above sea level. As we watched the object we were perplexed to see how the object could have been reflecting the sun which had already set. Additionally, we were viewing an object which was south-west of our position. Which should have minimized if not eliminated the potential reflection. After deciding it "couldn't be a UFO" we proceeded down the road and lost view of the object. I am very familiar with the area as both a resident and private pilot, having flown throughout the local area from Brackett airport in Pomona. Such an object would be a hazard to airmen in the area, especially at that time of night. I returned on the following day at about 1900 and observed the object again. This time I only watched it moving for about 20 minutes, then proceeded along the mountain road in an effort to gain a closer vantage point. Once I moved to a point that should have been directly east of it, I was no longer able to see the object. I returned to the prior vantage point (north-east where I lost visual contact) and could not relocate the object. There was a period of about 20 minutes from the point that I moved south-west to get closer to the object and when I returned to the initial vantage point. I am a former California licensed private investigator with over 15 years of surveillance experience as well as a former Marine Corps Intelligence Analyst assigned to the Air Wing. I am very familiar with most objects/craft including fixed/helo military and civilian and I could not identify what this object was. I continued to be struck by the brillant light eminating/reflecting from the object. If it is (i.e. the sighting report on 11/10/98 at 1138) a "metallic weather baloon" there should be some known data collection location. I was unable to locate one through my contacts with the FAA control tower at Brackett airfield.

Posted 1999-01-28