NUFORC Sighting 50346

Occurred: 1978-08-15 15:30 Local - Approximate
Reported: 2006-04-29 17:28 Pacific
Duration: 10 Min.

Location: Gadsden, AL, USA

Shape: Sphere
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

3 ft. dia tan colored spherical object manuveing at 120+ knts.

I was piloting a Piper Cherokee 140 airplane returning to the Gadsden Airport after some recreational flying approaching from the north about 5 miles out, when I passed the object at about 1000 Ft. above ground level. It was about 20 ft. off of my left wing. It was about 3 feet in diameter, tan in color, and looked like a weather balloon except that it had no inflation nozzle, no radiosonde attached to it, and it was perfectly round. Weather balloons have a teardrop shape to them when strapped to a weather gathering payload.

I circled back to get a closer look and noticed what appeared to be a red crecent moon or a hammer and scycle shape on it reminiscent of the emblem on the former Soviet flag.

As I circled around a second time to get closer look, the object moved away from me and maintained a distance of about 50 to 75 yard spacing between itself and my plane. When I became aware that the object could manuver, I was certainly rattled.

I tried to pursue the object about a minute or two but it accellerated away to the point that I could not keep up with it. I was traveling at 120 knotts.

Scared, I opted to return to the Gadsden Airport. When I arrived home, I reported the sighting to the Anniston Flight Service Station. I believe the attendant at the FSS was unofficially impressed, but I don't know weather or not he officially filed my report.

I believe the UFO to be either alien, a Top Secret USA probe, or the Russians aren't telling us something. I maintain that what I saw was not a weather balloon and flew under its own power. I strongly believe the markings were used camoflage the UFO to be from Earth.

NUFORC Note:

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

Posted 2006-05-15