NUFORC Sighting 51668

Occurred: 1977-08-01 22:00 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2006-08-14 21:22 Pacific
Duration: 3 minutes
No of observers: 6

Location: Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

Shape: Triangle
Characteristics: Lights on object

Triangle shaped (white only) lights observed flying directly over head apeared to be one solid object

I was sitting on my front porch enjoying a clear sky summer evening when I noticed what I thought to be a large low flying plane with its landing lights on coming over the ridge line several miles to the north.

I was 17 years old at the time and had lived on Air force bases for most of my life and was quite used to seeing airplanes at night, but it concerned me that this one appeared to be quite low and unusual even at a distance.

I poked my head inside the front door and called for my Dad to come check out what I was seeing. (My dad was a Retired Air force Colonel) and had been a pilot for 30 years.

My dad and I watched the object as it approached and as it got closer and passed overhead it presented itself as 5 seperate white lights in a triangular shape. It flew a steady heading and there was no sound whatsover.

It is unlike any object that I have ever seen in the sky, it appeared to be low (2 or 3 thousand) but it really is impossible to tell at night. But if it was much higher, then what doesnt make sense is how it appeared when I first saw it appear on the horizon...at that time it looked just like a large jetliner does when it is coming right at you with its landing lights on.

Several other neighboors watched it pass over, and while it was not spectacular, it was certainely unusual, and it did not have any red or green navigation lights, just white lights in a triangle shape.

This has bothered me ever since I saw it, and because I am a constant sky watcher, I have seen aircraft of every possible size and shape in all kinds of weather conditions.

NUFORC Note:

Witness indicates that the date of the incident is approximate. PD

Posted 2006-10-30