NUFORC Sighting 162369

Occurred: 2020-06-09 18:05 Local
Reported: 2021-03-13 14:26 Pacific
Duration: 3.5 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: San Diego, CA, USA

Shape: Oval
Characteristics: Aircraft nearby

Oval white UFO traveling fast overhead toward approaching aircraft at estimated max speed of 2,898 m/h.

This is a repeat listing of MUFON case number 109367 filed same day as sighting. I was able to make estimates of altitude and speed shortly after I filed the MUFON report but am unable to update that report, so I will include those estimations here. Observer is a retired aerospace engineer with a structural test, design and analysis background.

Wife and I sitting on outside patio 6:05 pm on cloudless warm summer evening. Heard popping sounds we never heard before coming from trees. I got up to look at the pine tree in our back yard because the patio umbrella obscured my view. I also looked directly overhead at palm tree canopy. My wife heard the popping but remained seated under the umbrella. Later found out noise was the sound of the pine cones opening. One UFO emerged from behind palm tree canopy straight overhead going fast and about the size of ½ a pencil eraser held at arms length. Within .5 to 1.0 second I ruled out it being a bird or a plane due to straight flight path, speed, no sound, it’s oval shape and fuzzy (no hard edge) appearance. I was able to see it for a total of about 3.5 seconds when I lost track of it in the whiteness of the horizon. It was also white with luminosity similar to that of a white fluffy cloud.

SPEED / ALTITUDE / SIZE ESTIMATES: We live under Lindbergh field approach path and aircraft are approximately at 1000 ft. elevation near this sighting. The UFO was headed into the approach path of the aircraft. It was 2 to 4 times the height of typical approaching aircraft. Observed at 90 degree elevation and lost sight at 15 degree elevation (measured) making for a 75 degree angle of observation. Using this geometry the speed calculation comes out to be 2,898 m/h if at 4000 foot elevation or 1,447 m/h if at 2000 ft. elevation, again, no sonic boom or sound was heard. Diameter estimates range from 15 to 30 foot in diameter depending on actual altitude.

Posted 2021-03-31