NUFORC Sighting 34997

Occurred: 1976-08-15 19:00 Local
Reported: 2004-02-11 18:00 Pacific
Duration: not sure, at least 5 minu
No of observers: 2

Location: Buellton, CA, USA

Shape: Other

Stealth looking glider hung 20 feet over our house for a minute or so

When I was 10 years old, I and some other members of my family were living just North of Santa Barbara California near Vandenberg A.F.B. Late one afternoon I looked into the western sky and became aware of an aircraft that looked just like a glider - cigar shaped with long narrow wings, a vertical tail fin, ailerons, and a white blinking light at the bottom of it which was flying across the top of a western mountain range. Suddenly it quickly moved South over, and probably beyond Santa Barbara (about 45 mile South) in a matter of seconds. We all became intrigued as we watched it further. It turned East, looped around and began coming closer to the ground and heading straight for us. After a few seconds I remember watching this craft floating about 25 feet off the ground right between our house and the neighbors in a large subdivision. It was painted black - like the stealth craft of today. It was so close we could have thrown a stone at it, but it made no sound at all - it was completely defying gravity. It was also dark out by that time - which now doesn't make much sense. The sun doesn't set that fast from the time we first saw it. It seemed to know we were looking at it and picked us out. I looked up and saw a pilot who was dressed all in black and wearing a black helmet. There was an orangish-pinkish glow that seemed to come from the instrument gauges and was glinting off of his helmet and gloves. He looked over at us, then looked back down at his gauges, then turned to wave to us as the craft started to slowly move away gaining speed as it moved. I never discussed it with anyone in the family until recently. Nobody else in my family remembers this event except my little sister who was 8 at the time. I was 10. I remember more of us in the back yard though, so I'm not sure why they don't remember.

NUFORC Note:

Date may be approximate. PD

Posted 2004-02-12