Last updated on May 1, 2024

Arizona UFO Sightings in 1987

This page aggregates and analyzes all UFO sighting reports made in Arizona during 1987.

How many Arizona UFO sightings were there in 1987?

  • There were 9 officially reported UFO sightings in Arizona in 1987.
  • In 1987, Arizona ranked #8 on the list of states with the most UFO sightings for that year.
  • Adjusted for population size, Arizona ranks #6 in the list of states with the most reported UFO sightings in 1987, with an average of 0.33 reports per 100,000 residents.

Arizona Cities with the most UFO Sightings in 1987

Rank City Number of Reports
1 Scottsdale, AZ 2 UFO Reports
2 Tucson, AZ 1 UFO Reports
3 Roosevelt, AZ 1 UFO Reports
4 Sonoita, AZ 1 UFO Reports
5 Apache Junction, AZ 1 UFO Reports

Arizona UFO Sightings Analysis

We analyzed all 9 UFO sighting reports in Arizona from 1987 to identify possible patterns and gain insight into the phenomenon:

Arizona UFO Sighting Reports in 1987

This is a sampling of 20 Arizona UFO reports from 1987, presented as they were submitted other than paragraph breaks added for easier readability where necessary.

You can click the 'Report' link to view the original report along with any photos that may have been submitted to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC).

Roosevelt, AZ

Full Report Text:

One light, then 2 lights west of Roosevelt, AZ observed by 2 adults camping. We were looking west while camping east of Tortilla Flat. While we were observing the stars we saw a single red light lasting about 10 seconds.

After a minute of staring in the same area, we saw a commercial airliner going south to north and all of a sudden 2 red lights showed up. In perspective, the lights were as large as the commercial jet. With my hand extended, they looked to be about 12 inches apart (from our vantage point).

I am not sure how far away from us they were as it was night time. They stayed in one position horizontally for about 10 seconds, then the southern one went up and the northern one went down, slowly at first, then quickly. They both then disappeared and we didn't see any additional lights over the next hour or so.

The one that went upward seemed to moved extremely rapidly the other not so fast. We were both in disbelief and asked each other if that just happened. I searched an have not found any similar incidents online.

We were just merely out camping and saw these lights. We are both professional adults. Here is a link to the google maps link approximately where we were camping: https://www.

google.com/maps/place/33%C2%B038'02.1%22N+111%C2%B012'14.

4%22W/@33.633907,-111.203989,154m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0.

12/04/87 10:18 PM

UFO Shape: light

Lasted: 15 seconds

Report

Sonoita, AZ

Full Report Text:

After a morning hike I went back to my van and looked up.3 space craft were flying overhead low enough for me to make out details. I was active duty USAF at the time.

Just stationed at Davis Monthan AFB in Az. I am an avid hiker and had just heard about great hiking in Sonotia,Az. So I took a drive to the area to explore the hiking, early morning but the sun was up.

I parked my Jeep by the roadside and went for a roughly 2-hour hike by the stream that runs through the forest. I hiked down the trail and back to the road to go back to DMAFB where I was stationed at the time. For some reason I looked up as I came out of the woods, I saw 3 very large, round flying objects.

they were in a very aligned formation, silent and I was able to watch them for about 15-20 minutes until they took off quite quickly and disappeared in seconds. About 3 weeks or so I was asleep in my home, it was roughly 12:30am and my entire bedroom lit up.VERY bright.

I got up and looked over to my right and 3 large non-human beings were standing there. I got seriously angry they were in my home where my children were sleeping in the house. I started getting up (the whole backyard was lit up.

I yelled at them to get the hell out of my home! I was in a very angry state, no fear, just rage at the fact they had come close to my kids! I served 20 years of active duty USAF, my career field was Jet engine mechanic I worked on roughly 6 or 7 different aircraft. I was the 1st female honor graduate from Jet Engine School in USAF history at the time.graduated from Chanute Jet Propulsion training.

I was not a reservist! I worked flight line, test cell, ran phase dock engine shop, and more.

08/29/87 12:00 PM

UFO Shape: circle

Lasted: 10 minutes

Report

Jakes Corners, AZ

Full Report Text:

Two crafts and orb in Jakes Corner with possible abduction, 5 witnesses In late August of 1987 I was moving out of Arizona with my young son and had stopped to spend the night at my grandparents house in Jakes Corners. A friend of mine came by to say goodbye. I'd been loading the car and was standing in the yard with my friend, son, and grandparents.

I then saw a very white light that looked like it was driving around the ground across the street on a hill. This happened just at early sunset. I was looking straight at the hill when I saw the object come up around the side of it and into view.

At first I thought it was a dune buggy, but it only had a single beam out the front. In utter disbelief, I watched as it drove around to the top of the hill and then continued into the air. It moved very slowly and without sound.

It was an extremely bright light and slowly moved across the street towards where we were. At this point we were all watching it. It was like a floodlight.

After watching it for some time, maybe 15-20 minutes, my friend and I decided to get in his car and drive down the street to see if we could get a better view from another angle. At this point it was nearly over the street. While driving down the road I first saw a very small red light fly up from the ground and then fly up to the object.

It seemed there was activity at the object with other smaller lights moving around it. Then to our left on the side of the road was another object. There are no houses or other structures in this area and nothing had been at this location previously.

The object was very close to the road. It had an extremely bright white light shining out of an opening. We could not see the objects shape but it was very big, like the size of a garage.

There was what resembled a hatch and the white light was pouring out from it, but it was too bright to make out any details inside of it. We decided to drive up to it. As we neared it, perhaps 40-50ft away the car engine died.

Simultaneously with the engine dying what appeared to be the hatch began to close shut. It finally cl! osed com pletely and we were getting scared. The engine kicked back in and we returned to the house.

By now the object in the sky was over the house. My grandparents were watching it with binoculars. We were not able to tell the shape of the object.

My grandmother called Luke AFB and they told her they hadn't received any reports. At this point, and I realize this is strange but it's true, everyone seemed to act like "so what, theres a ufo over the house" and we got sleepy. My grandparents and son went inside to bed.

My friend and I decided to go to sleep - on the front lawn, as if that was perfectly natural. We just fell alseep out on the ground. At one point I woke up and couldn't move and saw a blue light flooding the area but couldn't see a source.

I then recall what may be a very strange dream. (?) Small people approached us and said they were going to check our feet and that they would not approach my grandparents. They did some physical exams.

My friend was completely unconscious but I was awake and speaking to them in some manner although I was not able to move. The people did not move their mouths when they spoke. At one point they told me a being was there, I understood it to be a type of scientist.

The creature or thing was like nothing I can describe, it somewhat resembled a giant praying mantis. It was fish or bug-like and was abosultely the most horrible thing I've ever seen. I became terrified and was fighting them.

It was my impression that this creature did not have any compassion for humans. It did not speak to me but had a very cold presence. The next thing I know, my friend and I woke up in the morning still laying on the front lawn.

Everyone - my grandparents, son, and friend actted like nothing had happened. They were like "oh yah, we saw a ufo" as if that was perfectly natural. I was the only one that seemed to think something incredible had occurred.

We spoke about the examination of the feet and we realized that my friend had webbed toes which I didn't know, and I have double jointed toes! as does my son. Over the years my grandparents referred to this ufo event from time to time, and my son remembers the episode and says that one of the beings spoke to him. 2007 is the 20 yr anniversary of this event.

I've often wondered about what happened that night, and although it sounds incredible what I've related is true. After the event I had an interest in science and have since earned a masters in astronomy. As long as I live I will NEVER forget the sight of that object driving up the side of the hill and going into the air! ((NUFORC Note: Witness indicates that the date of the sighting is approximate.

PD)).

08/17/87 7:00 PM

UFO Shape: light

Lasted: hour

Report

Chino Valley, AZ

Full Report Text:

3 witnesses of 3 flying objects at close distance and several hours of lost time. the date is approxamate. i was walking with a friend and her 10 year old daughter.

we were about five miles west of the highway in the morgan ranch area. my friend was named dottie and her daughter, missy. dotty was a very level headed person and though fascinated with stories about metaphysics quite skptical.

i was talking to her and she and her daughter were listening. she interupted me by calling my name and said, "what's that?" i said, "i don't know" to our left about ten feet away and eight feet off the ground were three sphears, each about five feet across and forming a triangle. they were amber red.

the next thing i knew we had turned and were side by side, the three of us, facing them but i don't remember changing possitions. we stared at them blankly and i was mezmorized and lost conciousness. suddenly i regained conciousness and i was still standing and staring and the girls were right where they had been.

we stared a moment and then suddenly the objects began to moveaway from us at great speed. they moved in a straight line and remained the same distance from the ground, ducking into valleys and over ridges until it disapeared behind granite mountain into granite mountain wilderness. in silence as if nothing had happened we walked to my home.

we went inside and sat by the fireplace. we said nothing for several moments. dottie then said, "we have to be getting home" and left with her daughter.

the sighting occoured at about 4pm and i estimate it was now about 8:30 pm. (16:00 - 20:30) to this day i have no recolection of what occoured during that time. from that day forward, though we still had contact niether the adult dottie or her 10 year old daughter would discuss the matter with me.

i do not give thier last names here for the sake of their privacy as i have lost track of them many years ago. dottie was a home maker and her daughter was a 5th grade student and both were perfectly normal individuals. i, myself did odd jobs back then and construction work for people building their own homes as well as ranch and farm work.

i am a vetran of the us army and a former security guard at juvinile detention as well as a former nursing assistant. i can be contacted at [email protected] should anyone know of a dependable hypnotist i would like to find out what happend during the several lost hours.

08/15/87 4:00 PM

UFO Shape: sphere

Lasted: 5 hours

Report

Tucson, AZ

Full Report Text:

I am apparently being watched, because my family is from Roswell NM. I never knew anybody was taking official reports. Sorry for the delay, I heard about you last week.

I've been telling this story to anybody with an interest. There's more than one encounter, I'll start with the first one and keep adding. I'm 62, this happened when I was 40, and it continued to happen.

My last encounter was 1991 and I sort of avoid being caught in this again. My family is from Roswell NM. My grandfather's sister ((name deleted)) and her husband had a ranch there in the early 1900s.

My dad's family lived in Las Vegas NM. My grandfather worked on the railroad there. He died in an accident, and my father was 12, he went to live with his Aunt in Roswell.

He knew all the native American teenagers. They all grew up together. They took the horses to the mesas and camped out a lot.

My dad used to visit every summer, he loved the desert, only he wouldn't drive at night. The night desert spooked him. My dad couldn't wear a watch, the hands would spin.

We sort of accepted that as a crazy thing, never paid much attention to it. While we were crossing the desert with my dad in 1954, I had an incident. I was about 10.

We got to Gallup NM, and I bolted from the car and ran - My dad couldn't figure out what was wrong. I was hysterical. I remember it to this day.

There was a time gap, something like that - I couldn't account for missing time. After my dad calmed me down, we got a hotel and stayed the night. I'm telling you this, because in 1991, the exact same thing happened when I got near Gallup NM.

Only that time, my son was with me - and he remembers it. We got picked up in 1991 - we drove up a ramp or something, or thru a vortex, that looked exactly like Gallup NM - only the people weren't acting right. They were acting - my son remembers passing the same landmark twice - and now he's 26, and he still remembers it.

We never talk about it, its pretty upsetting. The 1991 incident was like the final time - I kept getting picked - they were following me around - I was so used to it, I would just play dumb and hope that the time frame would move along - they're still watching me, but I have asked them please do not interfere with me or my family - I'm getting a little too old for this- we need to be as normal as possible. Back to 1987 - We were living in Los Angeles in 1984.

I had a strange feeling, like I was supposed to move to Tucson. My cousin lived there, so we went to visit. After we got home, I sold everything and we moved to Tucson.

Just pulled up and moved. I got a job at the University of ARizona assisting the Dean. I have a BA in Fine Arts, and I was a legal secretary for 20 years.

I'm also a music teacher. I understand mathematical principles and science, and was majoring in math, but I got bad headaches. The math calculations would spin so fast, it gave me a headache.

So I switched to music. I can hear music in my head - which really helps if you compose. It's a fairly common skill among musicians.

But somehow, this ability to hear and pick up sound, was meant for more than music. I started picking up sound when I got to Tucson. I could hear things and I would ask people, do you hear that? They couldn't hear anything.

I heard a high pitched signal, like a transmitter. My son can hear these high pitched signals too. In fact, he used to hold his ears shut with his hands and refuse to go into places he could hear it.

Either it was subliminal broadcasting, or I was listening to something else. Tucson is a pretty strange place you understand, pretty close to the largest copper deposit in America - copper will pick signals up, I think. I was at the University for about 2 years, on and off, and I had a job working for an attorney.

In July 1987, I started picking up stronger signals at the university. Like something was under the university property. I worked in a basement laboratory for a professor.

I finally had to quit, I got dizzy and I couldn't concentrate. As soon as I quit, I started hearing the same signals in my apartment - and it got really strong. I started freaking out - I lost my cool - and since my family has always been a little strange in the first place - I decided to would have a chat with whoever was signaling.

I said, out loud "Look, whoever you are, I'm a rational person, I don't talk to people who aren't there, who I can't see, so if you need to talk to me, you need to be really really clear, and it has to be something I can't miss." So I tossed it out there - and apparently they heard me. Because a few days later, I was losing sleep and becoming increasingly disoriented.

I fell asleep in the afternoon with the window open - and the next thing I know - a massive gust of wind came thru the window and slammed all the doors - and I could not open my eyes. I could see without my eyes being open. I was on some planet and the temperature was below zero - everything was frozen solid - I could hear the sound of breaking glass, or high pitched bells, people talking - and I was unable to move.

I am highly analytical and I started making mental notes - trying to see on the sides - And just like that, I was out of it. I literally packed up my kids and told them to get in the car - and I started driving south on Interstate 19 south of Tucson. I was shaking really bad.

All I knew is I wanted to get out of the apartment - I couldn't breathe and I was shaking really bad A storm started rising up from the South, and started moving in - I got off the highway at Valencia - and turned left. I was shaking so bad, I had to stop the car. I told the kids to get out, while I calmed down.

Somebody was standing right behind me - that I couldn't see, blowing on my neck. I had the kids with me, and I was terrified. We started walking, and we went a few blocks, and ended up in front of a bank.

It started raining, the kids were wondering what was going on. I told them, go in the bank and sit down, I'll stay out here for a couple of seconds. As soon as the kids went in the bank, and I was standing there - the bank saw we were in distress and called the police.

The police came, talked to me, and I had to make something up - like I was tired - Right about then, I looked like a lunatic. My kids were really upset. They called my husband at work - he works as a mathematician and engineer.

While the police were standing there, the storm rolled in, two of the policemen touched me, and man, a huge bolt of lightening smacked me - and I saw the sun explode - and I thought - well, I must be dead. The police looked at me, grabbed me again, and somebody took over my body and literally threw the police on the ground. I guess touching is a no-no.

Then this voice goes "do exactly as I tell you, we need to get you out of here". I guess I was on the "wrong side" The police started acting really stangely. A woman came out of the bank, and she stared at the police and said "she's fine you need to go now" - and they got in the car and left.

When did you ever see that happen. Then she said "come inside, do you need a glass of water?" All of a sudden, it all turned, now everybody wanted to get me a glass of water. My husband showed up, he stared at me and the kids - and he tried to escort us home.

It just got crazier and crazier after that. Somebody started driving the car, and the kids and I had to go for a ride. I wasn't "me" anymore - I was somebody else.

Whoever it was, beamed down here. After about a day of driving around, and running out of gas in the desert, the police found us again - and man I had some explaining to do after that. My husband was furious.

I had to sit there and take it - and pretend I was nuts - I wasn't nuts. I was trying to observe. He was trying to show me something.

He explained things. When I said, "well why are you telling me all this stuff, I'm nobody." the answer was pretty much I had to wait about 25 years, and then there was a pretty good possibility that the information would end with me unless people were willing to listen.

Other than look like a nut, that's how it all started. The police transported me to a mental facility - and I had to sit there for 4 weeks looking like a nut case. I went along with the whole thing.

While I was there, I had a little radio with a headset. When I changed the batteries, the batteries drained in my hand. That hasn't happened again.

After 1987, nothing happened again until 1991 - I was driving across I-40, approaching Gallup NM, and the road just ended, there was another flash, and the road was back - only I was not in Gallup NM. I stop there all the time, whenever I drive to NM. Chief Yellowhorse sits on the property - it's a sacred site.

I usually stop and go in, maybe get a drink and buy some jewelry - but most things are unspoken - The university offered me an office position with the Mars project - but I turned it down and went back to Los Angeles. If I knew what was going on, I could be much more straightforward. While I was in Los Angeles, I saw the black triangle craft with the red lights, just once.

It hovered over the San Fernando Valley - I think long enough for me to see it - then it left. The only other thing that was pretty spectacular, was a light show over Mesa Arizona around 1991 - it was a series of dots and dashes in blasts of color, that streamed across the sky and went directly over our apartment. I got my husband and the neighbors, and we all stood there and watched.

It came from the direction of the airport, and the next day, the paper ran a story that somebody was fooling around with lights - and not to pay any attention to them. I have a lot to say, there's more, but that gives you a general idea of what happened. I had problems going to Santa Fe NM a couple of years ago.

I told them, again, "I am not going to tolerate a repeat performance, so if you don't mind, I need you to back off!" And they respect my wishes, if you can believe that. We sort of have an understanding. They're here if I need them to be here for any reason, which is sort of comforting, but I really don't want to go thru anything like that ever again unless it's part of scientific research and there's plenty of documentation and researchers on board.

I'm more than happy to walk any research team thru this, I'm just not going to chase them down. They need to ask me and respect the territory. I refuse to be treated like a nut job - I just saw your Characteristics secion.

Yes, my car engine stopped and forced me to walk for miles in the desert. Also, in 1987, on that date, (I am positive of the date) tucson lost all electricity at the date and hour - all the electricity went out for about 15 minutes in an electrical storm - you would have to check the newspapers - but I'm sure that was the day - The voice kept saying "I'm turning off the power" - apparently they can't get in unless the power is out - There was also a lot of extremely loud "car" type horns - deep ones - blasting signals - it all happened so fast - and then the voice goes "how's this?" He's a real sarcastic alien with a really great sense of humor - it's like "jokes on me" - It's like, human beings think they are so smart, and that just isn't the case. We are really really stupid.

I came to terms with my stupidity years ago, and I guess that's appealing. I'm positive they were watching my dad and then me - this is a family thing - I am not even sure if we're from this planet - I'm starting to have my doubts seriously - this family is very very strange - You won't be able to meet my oldest brother - but he looked exactly like an alien drawing - he was super tall and very thin and bony - he even scared me a little - He passed away a few years ago. I guess our family was out in Roswell when that craft went down in 1947 - I was born in 1946 in California - at least that's what they tell me.

My birth certificate is from a hospital that doesn't exist anymore - and there are no photos of my mom being pregnant - she and I never got along much - it was mostly dad and myself. Well, if that isn't the strangest story you got in a long time, at least you were entertained. I also see that you want to know if I agree to talk to an investigator.

Yes, you can do that, but don't do it over a phone. Email is better. I can't talk by phone to anybody and depend on the conversation being confidential.

My ex husband works at the National Security Agency in Washington. He monitors my phone calls - he hates me because I threw him out 30 years ago. That's a whole other story.

I wish aliens would pick him up and keep him. Much love. ((name deleted)).

07/28/87 3:00 PM

UFO Shape: flash

Lasted: 4 weeks

Report

Scottsdale, AZ

Full Report Text:

Summary : 1 UFO 30 degrees off horizon due west of Scottsdale, AZ. Red, White, Blue, Green flickering lights. Hovered for about 20 minutes.

Moved NW and continued to hover. 2nd UFO broke off and flew due east to mirror position over eastern mountains. At least 2 UFO's over the Phoenix, AZ area.

1st one seen at 00:15 hovering due west about 30 degrees above horizon. About 00:22 2nd UFO broke off from 1st one and flew due east to hover 30 degrees above horizon. No sound made by object.

1st UFO moved NW direction and continued to hover. Still hovering at 1:00 am.

07/23/87 12:15 AM

UFO Shape: unknown

Lasted: 30 minutes

Report

Bullhead City, AZ

Full Report Text:

Two separate "fireball" incidents in very distant locations of the world. (AZ & Hawaii) I heard Peter express interest in experiences of those who have had UFO encounters in the past as well as present, so after hearing this, I was compelled to share this. Please forgive the explanation, because I've never formally reported anything like this before.

But after hearing the stories tonight, I had to share. All of the times reported above are not exact. This first experience happened when I was 17 while driving from Bullhead City back to Phoenix, AZ.

I was doing a scheduled pickup & delivery from Bullhead City with my cousin around sunset. As we approached a large mountainous rock formation, the road curved around it. Before we even got to the curve, we both saw a very large ball of light cross the sky slowly (separate of the sun), and stop dead in the air near the rock formation we were approaching.

We both were stupified, and couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to rush over to this light. So I remember speeding up, and then slowing down and pulling over to the side of the road. We both got out, and walked toward this ball of light.

I specifically remember looking back at my cousin in disbelief because this proved not to be just a reflection off of the glass of the windshield from the vehicle we were driving. I also remember walking with him closer to this ball of light. The sun was going down, and by this point, you could actually see that this ball of light was now higher in the sky than we saw originally.

And to make things even stranger, this ball of light seemed to move away, just as we would get closer. At the closest I can remember, we were about 100-200 meters away. Next thing we know, both of us were cussing, and we were both scared.

I still to this day cannot remember why we were feeling scared. My heart was racing, and we both ran back to the vehicle, jumping in, and started it up. The only strange thing that completely made me get scared was the fact that I don't remember seeing this ball fly away.

My cousin doesn't either. Even more, it was complely dark when we were running back to the vehicle. By the time we got back to Phoenix, it was dark night.

When we got back, my uncle cussed us out, and accused us of taking the vehicle for joyrides and paryting. We didn't do any such thing. But instead, we just agreed with him and took our punishment for fear of ridicule, and not being beleived.

We had also realized that there was at least 45 mins. to and hour of missing time. A similar experience happened to me again way later when I was stationed in Hawaii with the ((deleted/military unit).

At the time, our battalion was sent to the big island of Hawaii for training. The training area is located in the very middle of the big island of Hawaii. It's called P.

T.A. (Pohakuloa Training Area).

Anyway, this PTA is located between the 2 volcanoes. I was ((deleted/on assignment)), it was like 0300 hrs, and I was facing North I beleive (there's an observatory on the top of the volcano). Anyway, since I was on ((assignment)) for 2 hours, and because it's so incredibly beautiful there (the sky has literally millions of stars which can be visible on a clear night).

Well, I was viewing the sky through my NVGs (Night Vision Goggles), and looking in the direction of the observatory in the North. After looking for like 4 minutes at shooting stars, something to the left caught my eye. Actually, the NVGs flashed brightly to my left, so I put them down because I thought that some dumb soldier was using a white light (which is totally against field rules during training or combat).

When I put down the NVGs, I saw a brigh light approach silently from the West (my left) toward my position. As it got closer, it increased in brightness. As it got close enough to see that it was perfectly round, it stopped in the air.

I called in on my telelphone to report, and they thought I was joking. When I told the Sgt. to come out and look, he did, and about 10 seconds after speaking with him, the light got very bright, and then shot across the sky.

What makes this sighting even more crazy is that maybe not even 4 minutes after this "fireball" shot across the sky, a large group (maybe 10 or 15) of wild boarhogs came running through our position as if something was chasing them. Normally, these boarhogs don't usually just come runnning through, especially when we have our battery setup. They might come in individually to scrounge around for food, but you won't normally see them just "stampede" through like they did that night.

Out of all the many times I had to go out to the field for training there in PTA, I never experienced another stampede of boarhogs again. I also didn't see another fireball there either. Later the next day, I was questioned by my Platoon Sgt, and Commander about what had occurred.

I reported it, and they made no visible reaction, other than telling me that it was from one of the volcanoes. There is no way that this was from a volcano. The ball stayed in mid air for that whole time, and then shot across the sky.

I've never seen any lava do that before. The area we were moving around in was in a large valley, with wide open spaces, and very dusty fields. We weren't even close to the active volcano, or to the black rocked lava fields.

The space is very wide open, with the occasional "PU" here and there. (A PU is the Hawaiian word for large hill) When we finally got out of the field after over 2.5 weeks, it was big talk.

Apparently, MANY other soldiers who were also in the area from the other batteries saw it too. ((NUFORC Note: Date is approximate. We would most welcome reports from other members of the military who might have been witness to this event! PD)).

06/15/87 6:30 PM

UFO Shape: fireball

Lasted: ?? 10min ??

Report

Apache Junction, AZ

Full Report Text:

On March 23rd 1987 at 0055 a object broke up above us to the left of salt river dam, and we heard a crash near weaver's needle. ((name deleted)) and I ((name deleted)) were out exploring, earlier in the day checking out different parts of the Salt River Dam. We ended up below the dam.

We were trying to catch fish in the puddles in an area that supports the dam -kind of like a second dam but not. We became stuck in the sand with my mitsubishi mini pickup. We'd jack it up and get out then get re-stuck.

We rested for a while and hiked around goofing off. We didn't care we'd get out. I'd turn on the headlights and light music and we'd fish from the head lights.

Then al of a sudden streaking through the sky we could see what ((my friend)) called a shooting star at first. I said that isn't far enough away to be a shooting star and you can hear the damn thing. As it got close we could immediately see it in several pieces spreading out.

We about 1/8 to a 1/4 mile away we watched a trasformer blow up into pieces. Then seconds later we heard a distant crash noise. We went home and told our friends and family.

We were listened to -politely, but not taken seriously because the MIR had broken up at the same time and landed in water. Well, Wes and I believe that there is more to the MIR then meets the eye, and that more than one piece came down, multiple pieces came down. We went back and looked around the desert where we thought the bigger piece(s) came down.

It was like looking for a needle in the hay stack. As a matter of fact we figured it had fallen within a mile and a half from Weaver's Needle (a rock formation were gold is suppose to be hidden long ago). Oh, I let a lot of air out of my tires to get all the way out of the sand -and drove to a gas station slowly! Thanks, RJ.

03/23/87 12:55 AM

UFO Shape: changing

Lasted: 30 seconds

Report

Scottsdale, AZ

Full Report Text:

Bright light takes off into the skys over Scottsdale, AZ in 1987 My brother and I were on the way to go bass-fishing early in the morning to Bartlett Lake. Just outside Scottsdale, AZ we seen a light, VERY BRIGHT, behind a desert mountain, and it lit up the background of the mountain so bright it lit up the entire area. We both said, Holly ****, and tried to say that is MUST be just a helicopter taking off behind the mountain, and there MUST be an airport there, so we hit the odometer on the truck and continued to drive slowly down the road.

The light started to get brighter, and brighter, and in an INSTANT the light (WHITE IN COLOR) shot straight up into the sky, and defied all laws of gravity as it streaked across the sky as fast as a shooting star, but it went UP, and after a ways, then turned right (horizontal). My brother and I couldn't believe our eyes? We did continue on the the lake. (Bartlett Lake, AZ), near Horseshoe Lake, and fished the morning and afternoon.

On the way home we decided to stop and get out where we set the odometer, and we were still MILES FROM TOWN! As we noticed in the daylight the mountain that was lit up earlier that morning could be seen as we drove back to Scottsdale. There was NO AIRPORT, and there was NO Buildings, or houses for MILES. We decided NOT to tell anyone as we feared we would be called CRAZY or that we MADE IT UP? I only now tell this to whoever reads this, so maybe SOMEONE ELSE seen the same thing back then? Maybe this happened and was REPORTED BACK THEN? The date is approximate, as years have gone by, but I am sure it was the spring time, and I am SURE of the time in the morning! We never saw a SHAPE of a craft, but the size of light was beyond belief! We both had been in helicopters and airplanes, and had seen them in the air at night MANY TIMES BEFORE? This was something else? I hope this may be confirmed by other witnesses? We would like to KNOW if what we saw was truly a UFO? We both know it was NOT FROM THIS EARTH? Thank you for listening.

OH, it made NO SOUND. ((NUFORC Note: Witness indicates that date of incident is approximate. PD)).

03/15/87 3:00 AM

UFO Shape: light

Lasted: three minuets

Report

Arizona UFO Sightings From 1987 By Shape

This is a standardized set of shapes a UFO report can be filed under.

Shape / Appearance Sightings % Of Total
Light 3 reported sightings 33.33% of all reports
Sphere 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
Flash 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
Circle 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
Unknown 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
Changing 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
Fireball 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports

Arizona UFO Sightings From 1987 By Month

This data point is an aggregation of all UFO reports by the month the sighting occured in.

Month Sightings % Of Total
August 3 reported sightings 33.33% of all reports
July 2 reported sightings 22.22% of all reports
March 2 reported sightings 22.22% of all reports
June 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
December 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports

Arizona UFO Sightings From 1987 By Weekday

This data point is an aggregation of all UFO reports by the day of the week the sighting occured on.

Weekday Sightings % Of Total
Monday 3 reported sightings 33.33% of all reports
Saturday 2 reported sightings 22.22% of all reports
Sunday 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
Thursday 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
Tuesday 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
Friday 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports

Arizona UFO Sightings From 1987 By Date (Top 5)

This data point is an aggregation of all UFO reports by the date the sighting occured on, limited to the top 5 dates with the most sightings.

Date Sightings % Of Total
08/15/87 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
08/17/87 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
03/15/87 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
07/28/87 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports
12/04/87 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports

Arizona UFO Sightings From 1987 By Time

This data point is an aggregation of all UFO reports by the time of day the sighting occured during. We took logical 4 hour windows in order to split the day into early morning, morning, afternoon, evening, night, and late night buckets for this analysis.

Time Of Day Hours Sightings % Of Total
Late night 00:00 - 03:59 3 reported sightings 33.33% of all reports
Evening 16:00 - 19:59 3 reported sightings 33.33% of all reports
Afternoon 12:00 - 15:59 2 reported sightings 22.22% of all reports
Night 20:00 - 23:59 1 reported sightings 11.11% of all reports

All Arizona Cities with reported UFO sightings in 1987

These are running counts of how many UFO sighting reports were filed per city in Arizona, in 1987

City Number of Reports View Reports
Scottsdale 2 UFO Reports Scottsdale UFO Sightings in 1987
Tucson 1 UFO Reports Tucson UFO Sightings in 1987
Roosevelt 1 UFO Reports Roosevelt UFO Sightings in 1987
Sonoita 1 UFO Reports Sonoita UFO Sightings in 1987
Apache Junction 1 UFO Reports Apache Junction UFO Sightings in 1987
Bullhead City 1 UFO Reports Bullhead City UFO Sightings in 1987
Chino Valley 1 UFO Reports Chino Valley UFO Sightings in 1987
Jakes Corners 1 UFO Reports Jakes Corners UFO Sightings in 1987

Other Years with Reported UFO Sightings in Arizona

These are running counts of how many UFO sighting reports are filed per year in Arizona.

Year Number of Reports View Reports
2024 33 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2024
2023 149 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2023
2022 139 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2022
2021 134 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2021
2020 227 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2020
2019 234 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2019
2018 93 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2018
2017 208 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2017
2016 240 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2016
2015 284 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2015
2014 302 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2014
2013 236 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2013
2012 212 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2012
2011 166 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2011
2010 124 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2010
2009 161 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2009
2008 178 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2008
2007 142 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2007
2006 124 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2006
2005 204 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2005
2004 200 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2004
2003 127 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2003
2002 122 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2002
2001 115 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2001
2000 214 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 2000
1999 95 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1999
1998 70 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1998
1997 144 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1997
1996 25 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1996
1995 44 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1995
1994 12 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1994
1993 15 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1993
1992 4 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1992
1991 9 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1991
1990 7 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1990
1989 13 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1989
1988 13 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1988
1987 9 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1987
1986 7 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1986
1985 6 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1985
1984 4 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1984
1983 7 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1983
1982 4 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1982
1981 7 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1981
1980 7 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1980
1979 6 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1979
1978 10 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1978
1977 4 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1977
1976 4 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1976
1975 10 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1975
1974 3 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1974
1973 3 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1973
1972 4 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1972
1971 2 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1971
1970 2 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1970
1969 3 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1969
1960 1 UFO Reports Arizona UFO Sightings in 1960