NUFORC Sighting 22238

Occurred: 2002-03-15 18:30 Local
Reported: 2002-03-15 19:35 Pacific
Duration: 20 minutes
No of observers: 0

Location: Sunnyvale, CA, USA

Shape:
Characteristics: Left a trail

zig-zag persistent low-altitude contrail

I didn't observe a craft, but rather the trail of one. I was driving home from work at about 6:30pm, heading south on San Thomas Expressway, when I noticed a thin white contrail in the south-bay sky (probably just over Los Gatos, CA). It was no ordinary contrail. First, it did not dissipate for over half an hour or longer. But most important, it was not in a straight line, but rather in extremely tight loops, zig-zags, and sharp angles. It looked like random scribbles in the sky. There's no way a conventional aircraft could produce this, and yet it was definitely artificial, and appeared to be at low altitude, I'd guess less than 4000 feet.

I am definitely not the only person to observe this phenomena. It was plainly visible in the sky, and must have been observed by atleast everyone heading south on San Thomas with me. I'd love to hear from anyone in the south bay area who witnessed its formation.

NUFORC Note:

Report of missile launch from Vandenberg AFB. PD

Posted 2002-03-19