NUFORC UFO Sighting 182969
Occurred: 1981-07-16 21:15 LocalReported: 2024-09-08 18:58 Pacific
Duration: 30 seconds
No of observers: 4
Location: Lovelock, NV, USA
Location details: On Route 80 westbound, about 31 miles from Lovelock Nevada
Shape: Other
Color: metallic
Estimated Size: Perhaps a large military helicopter
Viewed From: Land
Direction from Viewer: Considering the remaining sunlight I'd estimate SSW
Angle of Elevation: 29
Closest Distance: probably 150 Ft or less
Estimated Speed: very slow for an aircraft
Characteristics: Lights on object, Made a sound
Object crossed interstate very low in sky and fairly close to our vehicle
I'm writing this 43 years after the fact. On July 16 1981, I was driving a van with 3 passengers on board... traveling Rt.80 westbound at twilight, aprox 31 miles east of Lovelock Nevada. The sky was dark to my left, but there was still a bit of light to my right. My peripheral vision noticed a couple of lights low on the horizon from the left side of the highway, seemingly on a slight trajectory upward. Although I didn't hear an engine, I assumed it was a small aircraft taking off from a private airstrip....perhaps a ranch...and the sound would catch up. The object continued to head towards our van and remained low in the sky. I could tell by the stunned silence of my three traveling companions, it now had their total attention also. We all watched as this craft silently crossed directly over the highway, probably less than 200 Feet in front of us. But in the dark part of the sky it was an undetermined shape with some visible lights displayed. Once it crossed the highway it veered to its right where the sky still had a sliver of light remaining. I should mention it was still moving at a very slow speed with no sound. It was even closer now and the little bit of remaining sunlight offered a view that was perhaps also half silhouette. That's when I had my best view. It appeared to consist of two main tubes connected by perhaps three smaller angular tubes. It also had even smaller L-shaped, antennae like tubes in the front and the back. Each of these displayed lights at the end. As I recall, the ones in front were amber colored and the ones in back were red....I remember thinking "almost like brake lights" I watched in the rear view mirrors, and my companions' heads turned watching it as it silently continued a path around the back or our vehicle.....seemingly encircling us as it crossed the highway again. We were the lone vehicle on the road at that time and I couldn't help but feel like we were being observed. It continued on as if it had made a U-turn and headed back as we continued to watch. After another moment or so it suddenly gained speed and disappeared. In an instant, all I thought I could make out of it was a distant light. I don't know if it left at super-duper sonic speed, or it went into a portal to a different dimension....I was still driving and had to maintain some eye contact with the road also. Suddenly the silence was broken as we all said, "What the hell was THAT..!?!" Determining size and distance is challenging when one has been driving in that desert terrain for a day and half, but I estimate it was perhaps the size of a large Sikorsky type helicopter in length. I watched for a mile marker to refence location and passed a sign that said 30 miles to Lovelock.
After we arrived back home, I shared this story with a few friends and although they wouldn't express their doubt verbally, there was also an air of suspicion evident. That's likely why I've waited 43 years to relate it again. I conferred separately with the 3 passengers about 30 years after that trip and they all remembered it very well. I hope this will somehow be beneficial despite the length of time that has occurred since the incident.
Posted 2024-09-09