Last updated on May 1, 2024

Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1997

This page aggregates and analyzes all UFO sighting reports made in Pennsylvania during 1997.

How many Pennsylvania UFO sightings were there in 1997?

  • There were 39 officially reported UFO sightings in Pennsylvania in 1997.
  • In 1997, Pennsylvania ranked #10 on the list of states with the most UFO sightings for that year.
  • Adjusted for population size, Pennsylvania ranks #34 in the list of states with the most reported UFO sightings in 1997, with an average of 0.33 reports per 100,000 residents.

Pennsylvania Cities with the most UFO Sightings in 1997

Rank City Number of Reports
1 Pittsburgh, PA 2 UFO Reports
2 Philadelphia, PA 2 UFO Reports
3 Carlisle, PA 2 UFO Reports
4 Allison Park, PA 2 UFO Reports
5 Grove City, PA 2 UFO Reports

Pennsylvania UFO Sightings Analysis

We analyzed all 39 UFO sighting reports in Pennsylvania from 1997 to identify possible patterns and gain insight into the phenomenon:

Pennsylvania UFO Sighting Reports in 1997

This is a sampling of 20 Pennsylvania UFO reports from 1997, 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).

Allison Park, PA

Full Report Text:

Summary : A long hexagon shaped object crossed the sky just north of Pittsburgh,PA, with heading northeast and moving at a speed that I estimate to be around 50 knots. I saw the object cross the sky on Tuesday night(12/16) at around 7:55 PM EST. It was dark outside but the sky was complete clear except for stars(The moon was still below the horizon).

I was looking out the window when I saw what appeared at first to be a low flying airplane, but the shape was odd. As it came closer I could tell it wasn't a plane so I grabbed a pair of binoculars from my closet and headed outside to take a look. By this time the object was coming directly over my house.

It was a long hexagon shaped object with 6 large lights and several smaller illuminations. The two lights at the end points of the object were red, while the four lights that made up the center of the object were white. In the inner surface of the object were what looked like a smaller ring of lights, but the were very dim.

These lights on the object were different from what a normal aircraft lights look like. First off, they did not blink. Second, the appeared diffused like the light from a LED, not the bright bulb type lights that you would see on a airplane.

While the object was at a fairly high altitude I was able to see the actual body of the object. It was definitely a solid mass, hexagon in shape. I couldn't make out anything on the surface but it appeared to be a dark grey or black.

The total time I could see the object was about 4 minutes. It didn't seem to be moving very fast but it velocity and direction were constant. The object also made almost no noise.

I live 25 miles from Pittsburgh Intl. Airport so a lot of plane fly over head at a fairly frequent pace and you can hear the engine drone from miles away, but this thing made only a slight hum even as it flew away. If you would like a more in-depth description or drawing of what I saw let me know by e-mail and I can call or fax your office.

I don't know if that makes any sense or not, or if you have had any other reports from the part of the country. I don't know what it was I saw but I can say for almost certain that it was not a airplane and not a blimp.

12/16/97 7:55 PM

UFO Shape: other

Lasted: 3 to 4 minutes

Report

Scranton, PA

Full Report Text:

I looked outside my window and saw a circular object fly overhead. It had red and green lights in the front The object appeared to be round and black with green and red lights in the front moving southeast at airplane speed. It appeared to be a single craft.

I am not usually prone to seeing many UFO's although recently I have been seeing a much more increasing rate of them. My brother who was about 15 at the time also observed this object. ((NUFORC Note: Date is approximate.

PD)).

12/15/97 10:00 PM

UFO Shape: circle

Lasted: 20 seconds

Report

Tamaqua, PA

Full Report Text:

A light was seen up in the sky with small lights shining down from it it dissapeared and a possible abduction took place the following night. As I was walking across our backroad (we live in the country) and it was mostly black outside, I was going to our neighbors, when I noticed that the side of my neighbors house was lite up brightly and so were the pine trees that border the left side of the house, at first I thought nothing of it, but then I realized something in the sky was lighting it up. I wirled around to see and the light instantly vanished.

There was no sound at all. Witnesses include, myself, my aunt who lives about 3 houses away, and a friend of my neighbors who lives a few miles away. I never actually saw the craft, it vanished AS SOON AS I TURNED AROUND (like it was watching me) I got the description from my aunt.

The following night, I was walking down our hallway with the lights of, just in the dark, when the whole hallway lite up bright red, then whent to a dark blood red. At first I thought it was the tail lights to a car, but it wasn't. I also was frozen in the position I was in.

I have told myself before if anything wierd like this happens I'll go investigate, walk around, etc, but I couldn't it was like I was frozen. The light eventually faded out and things came back to normal.

11/15/97 9:00 PM

UFO Shape: light

Lasted: 30 seconds

Report

Boyertown, PA

Full Report Text:

Summary : Southern portion of the sky, bright light seeming to change from bright to light to bright again. Reported at 6:53 P.M.

sighting has since disappeared. A bright, cirrcular shaped objest or star shape giving off different emences of light. There were two at different locations seeming to be in a straight line.

Other times looking like a star.

11/10/97 6:50 PM

UFO Shape: light

Lasted: 2 hours

Report

Pittsburgh, PA

Full Report Text:

observed stationary disk object hovering in clear daylight about 100 feet driving nearly beneath it. A coworker and I were on the job in a company truck. We left our plant downtown pittsburgh heading north east across the duquesne bridge on route 8/28 buypass for the 32nd street bridge.

I was in the passenger seat and from the duquesne bridge we both saw and object at a distance further up the road. It was flat on the bottom and sloped to a near point on top. Driving closer we could see it was brown about 100 feet up hovering above the rail tracks between the roadway and the HJ Heinz food plant.

We drove almost beneath it. I could see more of it than he out my window. The bottom was a lighter brown seamless with three evenly placed half round protrusions.

The rim had a lip which covered the protrusions from a distance.It was about 30-50 feet in diameter. The sky was clear.

There was alot of morning rush hour traffic it would have been hard to stop and we never thought of it because by the time we realized what we just saw it was too late. When we turned right on the 32nd street bridge I looked out my window, it was gone. That evening I listened for some report on TV, there was none.

10/30/97 7:30 AM

UFO Shape: disk

Lasted: 3 minutes

Report

Norristown, PA

Full Report Text:

I viewed three UFO's in the sky, moving at high speeds and amazing shapes in the sky not possible by human planes. I first noticed the objects as I was playing basketball outside. I have been a UFO fanatic since i was very young, and still am.

The sun was on the horizon, giving the sky an orange-yellowish color. The three objects were moving in various angles, shapes, and speeds. at some points, they would move halfway across the sky in almost no time at all.

I observed them with my normal vision before i got my binoculars. when i looked at them more closely, their shapes did not change, making me almost certain that they were circular or spherical in shape. As i watched further, i noticed that they were almost playing around.

One would stay motionless in the center, while the other two would move in almost perfect circles and/or ovals. Almost sparatically, one of the UFO's instantly disappeared from sight. Mind you, these objects were way above the treeline, so it must have escaped at a tremendous speed.

the other two UFO's continued their flying routine, and sometimes would have one of them revolve almost perfectly around the other, motionless one. At some points, they would disappear and then reappear at a different area in the sky. what was strange was that they were both orange, which im guessing was because of the sky's color.

But what didn't make sense was the fact that the shape and color of the ships were so easy to distinguish in the sky. they should have been hard to be spotted, but they were visually clear even by the naked eye. I could only stand and watch in awe, and i knew that i was too young to have my parents let me use a camera of any kind in the house.

Then, the most amazing thing happened. In the middle of the revolving dance, the center object began to grow larger, and it's glow became much greater. the other object then flew right into the other ship and disappeared.

the remaining UFO then began to move in violent yet beautiful circles. And then, just like that, it disappeared. to this day i haven't forgotten a single detail of what i saw that day, and i h! ave been waiting to tell this story for a long time.

((NUFORC Note: Date is approximate. PD)).

10/21/97 6:45 PM

UFO Shape: circle

Lasted: 20 Minutes

Report

, PA

Full Report Text:

Summary : Driving west on i-80 ufo was hovering about 100 ft off ground less than 50 ft from interstate.It was about 200yds in diameter and the underside was very visible.It was very dark grey or black nonreflective material.

There were two geometric sections of square windows? that were each 5 x 3 in a concave portion of the body.One section of six of the same size on a convex portion separating the two above sections.Also there was a larger (8x8)square section of very intense white light in the center section.

In a 40mph side wind it was motionless and silent at about 100 ft off the ground.Also the CB in my truck would not even key up for the next 5 miles and the fm radio would not work.Also the military may already be aware of this since I saw a helicopter at 5-10 mi west of the ufo.

the ufo was still there when I left. The outside shape of the ufo although basically a round shape the edge curved in and out about every 50ft and was perfectly contoured so there was not a flat spot on the entire underside of the ship.To a casual observer the whole ufo could be easily missed as the color blends well with the night sky along with its motionless and silent hovering.

There was no activity that I could see on ,around or coming from the lighted apertures.(windows or engines?)The ufo was close to an overpass that did not connect to the interstate.There was only one and I was a little apprehensive about walking up closer and we were on a tight delivery schedule.

10/07/97 3:26 AM

UFO Shape: circle

Lasted: 5 minutes

Report

Jim Thorpe, PA

Full Report Text:

The turn was that of a very sharp L Clear, star filled night, mountain top. luminated object, N to S size of a dime (height could not be determined) flew overhead at high speed. without stopping, made a sharp right turn, excellerated and disappeared.

10/03/97 9:00 PM

UFO Shape: oval

Lasted: less than 1 min.

Report

Farrell, PA

Full Report Text:

Summary : Low-flying, object prior to west to east moving severe storm on PA/OH border. I was returning home from work on a Friday afternoon. A major thunder storm was approaching from the west.

Hozel road heads north from Swamp Road. It then takes a 90 degree turn west for about 800 yards before intersecting Radio Road, which runs north. About 300 yards prior to the intersection, I observed an object about 700-800 yards distant at tree-top level.

I took no immediate notice because there is a large blue-green water tower located in the general direction. This tower, however, is only visible from Radio Road about 200 yards north of the mentioned intersection. When I took deliberate notice, I observed a disk-shaped object with a small cylindrical superstructure centered on the upper half of the disk.

This structure's top came to a point. The object was silver in color but didn't shine; like lead. I saw no movement or heard no noise.

I glanced at the road then back at the tree-tops and the craft was gone. This had taken seconds so I was not sure what had just happened (or if it happened.) As I turned north on Radio Road, I glanced to my left, over a farmer's field and again saw the object, this time almost totally below the tree-tops and on a sharp (45 degree+) angle (north side lower than south side of craft.

) This was at about 300 yards. From this point I could also see the water tower. It was clear they were not the same object.

The flying object did, however, closely resemble the top of the water tower in shape (definetly not in color or direction.) I turned my attention back to the road and once again, the object was gone. Several months later, I was relating this story to my Brother-in-law and his girlfriend.

The girl got a little upset. Talking to her, I found that her bedroom window looked out over this same field from it's northern edge. She said she had occasion to witness bright lights coming from the field at night, more than once.

09/15/97 6:00 PM

UFO Shape: disk

Lasted: 3-5 min

Report

Philadelphia, PA

Full Report Text:

Summary : I sighted in daylight between 1 and 8 small, bright, round objects high in the sky over a period of 7 hours that flew from north to east in usually in three's in various patterns(triangular, stacked, linear). I first spotted these bright, white round or oblong objects (they resembled a bright star)at 9:30 am on Sunday August, 17, 1997 in the morning. I noticed one such oject flying from west to east above and behind a blimp which was traveling slowly in the opposite direction.

I viewed this through a a glass door overlooking downtown Philadelphia, PA from my fifth floor apartment building. The sky was clear blue. I opened the door onto an outside porch to view the flying bright object unobstructed.

There were two other objects on the right flying east. They were not flying terribly fast, but they appeared to be flying in a triangular formation. I sighted such objects from 9:30 am until 4 pm.

They would continue for the most part to appear from the north and fly east. There would be anywhere from one object to eight objects in the sky at once, moving in and out of various flight patterns (triangular, stacked, linear). They usually flew in three's in a triangular formation.

Somethimes two would fly very close together, and then move apart. Sometimes two would fly as a double on top of one another or next to one another. At 1:30 pm I saw as many an eight objects in the sky at once.

I was walking to the market a few blocks from my apartment building. When I reached the store I could see above the store moving from north to east approx. seven or eight bright round objects.

They resembled a bright star, like venus. There was, however, at this time one object that appreared brighter than the rest and its upper portion flashed or blinked. Next to it appeared an object that was smaller and appeared a dull red.

That object moved east and disappeared. Three of the other objects moved north and four others moved east. By the time I returned home, I could see two objects stacked on top of one another flying east.

These objects were small. It is hard to guess at what altitude they were flying. I would say at least 30,000 feet.

Objects would appear out of the north and fly east until about 4:00 pm. At least one or two was always present in the sky. Then they tapered off and by 4-4:30 pm, there were no objects sighted.

My roommate saw the objects as well and was baffled. It was very strange since it lasted such a long period of time. I called one of the local news stations around 2 pm, but nothing was reported on the evening news.

The objects were not very large, the size of a star, like venus. They were very bright, white in color. They moved with a strange fluidity.

That is what caught my attention initially. They would move together and apart quite rapidly and in and out of various formations.There is an airport that is nearby and many planes could be seen while the objects were visible.

But the objects and a plane cou! ld not be confused because of the objects movement. They moved with an agility that I have never seen a plan demonstrate. I am a native of the Philadelphia area for the past 30 years and am very used to seeing planes.

These objects were different. They were not random lights because they seemed to moved in very purposeful, logical formations and repeated these patterns often. Their speed was much faster than your average commercial plane, but they did not streak across the sky or anything like that.

Sometimes the formations(triangles, lines, stacked) spanned many miles, sometimes they were closed in. Usually they would expand and contract the formation or move out of the formation into another one. There is an Air Force Base in New Jersey, McGuire Air Force Base, perhaps 50 miles away.

But these objects did not resemble any miliary aircraft that I every saw.

08/17/97 9:30 AM

UFO Shape: sphere

Lasted: 7 hours

Report

Sciota, PA

Full Report Text:

This is the second incident, nearly a year or so after my time in Haiti. One night in what I think is August 1997, I was home in bed, and at 1 or 1:30 in the morning, my wife comes home from visiting her friend’s house with our son and daughter, along with my wife’s cousin’s daughter who was staying with us. My wife, as soon as the door opens to our house in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, crying, hollers my name as soon as the doors open.

Annoyed, I woke up and thought she had another car accident, like maybe smacking a guard rail or the highway divider again (she’d done that once or twice), she said no, but by how bad she was crying, by this point, had me wide awake and I went down in some shorts and helped her get the kids into the house and in bed. When we were done, we went to our room and she was still crying as we sat on our bed and she began to tell me what happened, after she calmed down and drained my iced tea dry. Then she begins her story.

She had been driving on Route 209 in Sciota heading back towards Route 33 which she would get on going north to come home after she had been visiting her friend "Beth" and our kids played with hers (she’d been there since that afternoon around 2 I think). She was driving along, her mind wandering as she listened to music when all of a sudden, a deer jumps in front of her and she slams on the brakes, and the car stops in the middle of the left lane (Rt 209 at this point is preparing to split between the on ramp going north, on ramp going south, and going straight under the highway Route 33, left lane was for going north on 33, while straight and south 33 were in the right hand lane). She said she waited for her heart to stop beating so fast and checking on the kids to see they were all still asleep in the car, and the deer kind of taking it’s time crossing 209 after she squealed the tires in her attempt to stop.

When she noticed, in the sky directly ahead of her a huge disk shape that lights on the outer edge of the disk (she never did tell me what arrangnment they were in or their colors), and that it was directly over the on ramp she had to use to go north. She was too terrified to move, not believing what she was seeing. As she watched it, it moved north north-east, as it moved over a Calvary Church that you can see from the on ramp to 33 north, and a mountain north north-east of that.

She really saw how large the craft was, she said the moon was bright, and the shadow as it crossed the mountain covered the church it had passed that a moment or so later she could see it compared to the mountain and it was larger than it as at one point she could see the UFO back-dropping the mountain as it moved off north north-east along a ridge of mountains that led to a quarry a couple miles away before it disappeared. She said it made no noise, because she couldn’t hear anything through the open windows or the open moon roof from the craft, especially since she stalled the car when she stopped to not hit the deer (Ford Escort 5 speed manual transmission). She cried harder, swearing her and the kids would disappear and no one would ever know what happened to them (she told me this as I held her as she cried in our room as she told me the story that night), it would take them and no one would know the difference.

She then noticed headlights in the distance in her rear-view mirror, and realized someone else may have saw it or would know they were there, before she started the car and resumed her drive home and my time getting woken up when she opened the door. On your website you can compare rough distances as you can come along Route 209 in Brodheadsville, PA, through Sciota to the intersection with Route 33, and if you zoom in right, the Calvary Church was on Haney Road, while she stopped for the deer just a little before Bossardsville Road crosses 209 on your map, with the UFO over the lane she had to take to go north when she first saw it. ((NUFORC Note: Witness indicates that the date of the sighting is approximate.

PD)).

08/17/97 12:30 AM

UFO Shape: disk

Lasted: five minutes or so

Report

West Sunbury, PA

Full Report Text:

BRIGHT LIGHT APPEARED ABOUT 200 FT IN AIR AND COVERED ME WITH A BRIGHT BEAM BEFORE STREAKING OFF OUT OF SIGHT I WAS AT MY HORSE BARN CHECKING ON THINGS AND ADMIRING THE NIGHT SKY AND ALL OF ITS STARS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A BRIGHT LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 200 FT IN THE AIR, JUST IN FRONT OF ME AND OVER MY HORSE PADDOCK.I TRIED TO SEE ANY OBJECT BUT THE LIGHT WAS TOO BRIGHT AND I HAD TO COVER MY EYES WITH MY ARMS WHILE TRYING TO LOOK.I WAS COVERED BY THE BEAM LIKE A GIANT FLASHLIGHT WAS BEING SHINED ON ME.

THERE WAS NO NOISE OR AIR MOVEMENT(WIND). I MOVED MY ARMS AND HANDS AROUND TO TRY TO BLOCK OUT THE LIGHT AND SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING IT,BUT I COULDN'T.I WAS FACING EAST.

I THEN HEARD A LIGHT PLANE ENGINE COMING FROM BEHIND ME AND OVER MY RIGHT SHOULDER.I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT AND SAW A PLANE COMING.IT WAS PRETTY HIGH UP BUT I COULD HEAR IT.

I THOUGHT,WELL AT LEAST SOMEONE ELSE IS SEEING THIS TOO, WHEN IT SUDDENLY STREAKED OFF TO THE NORTH LEAVING A STREAK OF LIGHT SHOWING ITS PATH.IT MOVED WAY TOO FAST FOR A PLANE AND MADE NO NOISE.I CAME DOWN THE HOUSE AND TOLD MY WIFE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO TELL OR REPORT IT TO.

I JUST CAME ACROSS YOUR WEB PAGE AND THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW EVEN THOUGH ITS BEEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO. PLEASE KEEP MY NAME, ETC. OUT OF THIS.

I ONLY WANTED TO HELP YOU GATHER INFO.I DON'T WANT TO BE LABELED AS A NUT.THANK YOU.

08/15/97 11:30 PM

UFO Shape: light

Lasted: 30-45 SEC.

Report

Susquehanna, PA

Full Report Text:

Summary : Large clear orangish circle shaped object. While burning papers in an enclosed burner, I looked up at my garage roof and thought I had set it afire.Then i realized that what I wa seeing was something hovering at the peak of the roof and it was orange clear object about what I would say would be the size of a Volkeswagon beetle.

It appeared to be at roof level and then went higher in the air, clearing the house roof and continuing across the street . It had come from the northeast and went southwest. I had my neighbor come out and she saw it as it was much higher in the sky and about 6 other people down the street were watching it also, but it was high in the sky to them also.

Shapewise, it appeared to be circular, clear orange and just floating above garage roof. We, the observers range in the 30-48 age with two being teenagers. Our local police officer was called after it had gone thru and he informed me that about two months ago he had seen an object that he could not explain.

07/22/97 10:00 PM

UFO Shape: circle

Lasted: approx.8minutes

Report

Jefferson Estates, PA

Full Report Text:

The first object was a red light that seemed to appear out of nowhere as if from behind the moon or something. It rose up to just slightly above the moon. The second was, I would estimate, 15 minutes behind.

As the red one headed northwest, the white one rose from below the moon and trailed it at an even pace until they were no longer visible. Observer Bkgd Info - 3 White Male teens of age 13, 13, 15. One joined us later age 12.

No previously documented psichiatric problems. All GPA's of 4.0 at the time except for the 15 year old, who was slightly lower than average.

The first red light appeared at approximately 10:45 PM Eastern Standard time and was just below the visible bottom of the moon. It sat there until about 11:00 than began to rise at an unhumanlike rate of velocity. It travled upwards, and as it reached the visible top of the moon, a white one appeared.

It behaved just like the red one. When the red light began to move northwest in the night sky, the white one began to trail it with an equal speed as if being towed from the moon by the red one. We observed this for about an hour or so before they were out of sight.

The crafts seemed to both be invisible to the naked eye shape and colorwise, just a red light and a white light.

07/15/97 10:45 PM

UFO Shape: light

Lasted: 1 hour

Report

Philadelphia, PA

Full Report Text:

The ufo that closely observed college students on campus. Well, I was in high school then working as a counselor for younger students on a college campus in Pennsylvania. It was approximately five twenty in the afternoon and it was time to get off work.

Me and my friends were joking around with the younger students just joking and laughing. I myself just happen to look in the sky because at that time the college campus had rows of trees where bird would gather and fly over people heads. As I looked up I happen to notice a airplane then my eyes looked a little lower and I seen another airplane nothing out of the ordinary.

Furthermore, as I looked at the second airplane my eyes focused on a object that was in the air with no movement. The first thing I did was stop everyone from talking and get them to look at the object in the air. I noticed there was nothing attached to it and it was like it was observing the college campus.

My peers all notice the object and I think it noticed us because it started to move. The object was oval and it moved very slowly on the left of the object was a green light flashing from side to side then on the right side was orange light flashing from side to side it was sunny and clear as day outside. The object was a good distance away but it was so clear outside with no buildings blocking our view we could all see the object in clear view.

Then the object moved so fast it just disappeared before our eyes. I have never seen anything like that in my life and I just wanted to share my experience. ((NUFORC Note: Witness indicates that date of sighting is approximate.

PD)).

07/14/97 5:20 AM

UFO Shape: oval

Lasted: 5 minutes

Report

Allison Park, PA

Full Report Text:

Summary : As I was driving near the site of a radio tower under construction, I noticed a black, barrel shaped object hovering near it. I stopped my vehicle and tried to understand what it was. As I watched, it began to change shapes, and flash as if the entire unit was a strobe light.

I am a former member of the Civil Air Patrol (1Lt.) and I am very familiar with small aircraft, and this was unlike anything I have ever seen. The craft seemed to be observing the construction of the communications tower.

Traffic began to build behind me and I had to move to another location 20 seconds away, however, after I moved it was gone. No aircraft I have ever seen from this elevated view point can move out of the field of view so quickly. I live in Allison Park in Hampton Twp.

, about 12 miles North of the city of Pittsburgh PA. On Friday July 11 1997, I was on my way home at 3:25 PM. I entered the northern end of Topnic Dr.

(in Hampton Twp) and from its high elevation I looked to see how much progress was made on the new communications tower being built near the township Municipal building and as I made the turn onto Topnic I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Looking due south, I saw the tower first. It was not far from being topped off.

I could barely see the men working on the top section, but just off to the right, or to the west, there was a black object hovering, as if observing the tower. It was about 1500 above the ground and about 1/2 mile away from me and was so black it was if I was looking at a hole in the sky. It was sort of barrel shaped, and as I watched it hovering completly silent and motionless, it began to change shapes.

It changed so many times that I could no longer tell what shape it wa! s. It then began to flash as if the entire craft was a strobe light, pulsing about every 2 seconds. I could see no detail in the craft, no lights or windows, just a black object in the sky hovering silently motionless at first, and then suddenly changing shapes, and flashing like a giant strobe light.

I am a mature adult man, with years of experience in the USAF Civil Air Patrol. I live within the TCA of Pittsburgh International Airport, and I'm used to seeing aircraft of military, commercial, and private origin flying in the area. I have never in my life, however, seen anything that I can even say comes close to looking like the craft that I saw on 11 July 1997.

My vehicle was stopped in the middle of the road as I observed this craft, and a few cars started to build up behind me. I moved on down the road where I lost sight of it for 20 seconds. When I got to another vantage point, it was gone.

From the elevation that I was at, no aircraft, balloon, or helicopter could have moved out of my field of view so quickly. I never heard of any other witnesses, but would like to know, if anybody out there can tell me, if there were any other reports of this sighting. I didn't report this to anyone, because I didn't know who to report it to.

07/11/97 3:25 PM

UFO Shape: cylinder

Lasted: 6 min.

Report

Albion, PA

Full Report Text:

Was silent, seen by two customers of mine, who are not UFO buffs was moving very slowly (no more than 2 mph) made no sound (I have seen blimps they can be heard for miles) was approx 1000 feet long was approx 1 to 2 miles away was definitely not a blimp, sky was clear no clouds was watched by two people for 15 minutes was seen to the west moving north I am not sure the two people who saw it would want to have their names released since one owns a business and does not need to be perceived as a nut They told me the day they saw it since they know I am very interested in UFOs. I was not sure I should report this because I did not see it personally.

07/01/97 1:00 PM

UFO Shape: cigar

Lasted: 15 minutes

Report

Harveys Lake, PA

Full Report Text:

I may have been abducted with the time differential but have no recollection of missing time. It was a beautiful early morning ( 6 am.)a friend and I went fishing at Harvey 's Lake a 25 minute drive from home.

So we went to a a big rock across from Hanson's Park ( you can see the old ricketty rollercoaster ) around a quarter mile across. There is a patch of hill than a stone patio next to a dock we have permission to fish from. We decided to setup on the patio.

As we fished you could see the street light across the way by the park. So we fished and some time later around a hour or two I noticed that the light didn't go out and seemed a little closer. I thought nothing of it and fished some more.

Then I noticed it closer than BAM. I looked up in the sky and saw a Black object hoovering oh so slow above us moving toward our backside and were only 100 yards above the 60 foot treetops. It looked like no UFOs I saw in books and other source before.

The shape was like a small triangle in front with another bigger triangle combined together. I have a attachment drawing it was all black. As I ran to the road that circumferences the lake the craft went slowly out of sight, moving along the mountains behind the lake.

When I ran back tomy friend and he looked bewildered , I said; hey man did you see that and he just keep fishing with a sort of nod. At this I asked my friend what time it was he said 10:30 am. A hour or two disappeared !! It sort of freaked me out and excited me at the same time.

Again my friend would not talked about the incident and that was that. I have never forgot this incident and have had 3 more experinces. They earlier in time 2 around 30 years ago and one in the early ninties.

((NUFORC Note: Witness indicates that date of incident is approximate. PD)).

06/28/97 8:00 AM

UFO Shape: other

Lasted: 2 to 3 hours

Report

Little Marsh, PA

Full Report Text:

Darkest night sky of year,moon not visible.Object traveled south-north very low,no sound,slow,two large front facing white cicles that did not emit light,one center very small dome shaped dimmer light came on with a stick like object inside circling,then went out.Object blended in perfect with background.

Shape was guessed by object covering stars.

06/20/97 9:00 PM

UFO Shape: triangle

Lasted: 3 min.

Report

Grove City, PA

Full Report Text:

Summary : V-shaped object hovering over local hospital Several other local sightings. A friend of mine heard on his police scanner that a V shaped object was spotted hovering over the local hospital several weeks ago. This is what I heard.

More info. is coming to me everyday. A V shaped object was seen hovering over the local hospital.

Several of the hospital employee when out to see what it was. I heard that it had 4 lights on each side and was very large. They called the local police and they came to see what it was.

When they got there they made everyone go inside and reported on the scanner that they had no idea what it was.I also heard from another friend that his mother was driving home from work several days ago . She was traveling from Grove City to Slippery Rock (PA).

As she was leaving the city she saw this thing in the sky that was black and huge. A blue beam came from the object and it followed her all the way to Slippery Rock (5miles). I am trying to get names and info.

from the local police. When I do I will email you.

06/15/97 12:00 AM

UFO Shape: triangle

Lasted: 15mins

Report

Pennsylvania UFO Sightings From 1997 By Shape

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

Shape / Appearance Sightings % Of Total
Light 8 reported sightings 20.51% of all reports
Formation 4 reported sightings 10.26% of all reports
Disk 4 reported sightings 10.26% of all reports
Oval 4 reported sightings 10.26% of all reports
Triangle 4 reported sightings 10.26% of all reports
Circle 4 reported sightings 10.26% of all reports
Other 3 reported sightings 7.69% of all reports
Fireball 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports
Egg 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports
Cigar 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports
Cylinder 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports
Sphere 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports
Flash 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports

Pennsylvania UFO Sightings From 1997 By Month

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

Month Sightings % Of Total
June 6 reported sightings 15.38% of all reports
May 6 reported sightings 15.38% of all reports
February 5 reported sightings 12.82% of all reports
July 5 reported sightings 12.82% of all reports
October 4 reported sightings 10.26% of all reports
March 3 reported sightings 7.69% of all reports
August 3 reported sightings 7.69% of all reports
November 2 reported sightings 5.13% of all reports
April 2 reported sightings 5.13% of all reports
December 2 reported sightings 5.13% of all reports
September 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports

Pennsylvania UFO Sightings From 1997 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
Tuesday 11 reported sightings 28.21% of all reports
Thursday 7 reported sightings 17.95% of all reports
Monday 7 reported sightings 17.95% of all reports
Friday 6 reported sightings 15.38% of all reports
Sunday 5 reported sightings 12.82% of all reports
Saturday 3 reported sightings 7.69% of all reports

Pennsylvania UFO Sightings From 1997 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
02/25/97 2 reported sightings 5.13% of all reports
03/27/97 2 reported sightings 5.13% of all reports
08/17/97 2 reported sightings 5.13% of all reports
02/06/97 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports
05/29/97 1 reported sightings 2.56% of all reports

Pennsylvania UFO Sightings From 1997 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
Night 20:00 - 23:59 16 reported sightings 41.03% of all reports
Late night 00:00 - 03:59 8 reported sightings 20.51% of all reports
Evening 16:00 - 19:59 6 reported sightings 15.38% of all reports
Afternoon 12:00 - 15:59 4 reported sightings 10.26% of all reports
Morning 08:00 - 11:59 3 reported sightings 7.69% of all reports
Early morning 04:00 - 07:59 2 reported sightings 5.13% of all reports

All Pennsylvania Cities with reported UFO sightings in 1997

These are running counts of how many UFO sighting reports were filed per city in Pennsylvania, in 1997

City Number of Reports View Reports
Pittsburgh 2 UFO Reports Pittsburgh UFO Sightings in 1997
Philadelphia 2 UFO Reports Philadelphia UFO Sightings in 1997
Carlisle 2 UFO Reports Carlisle UFO Sightings in 1997
Allison Park 2 UFO Reports Allison Park UFO Sightings in 1997
Grove City 2 UFO Reports Grove City UFO Sightings in 1997
Blairsville 1 UFO Reports Blairsville UFO Sightings in 1997
West Sunbury 1 UFO Reports West Sunbury UFO Sightings in 1997
Boiling Springs 1 UFO Reports Boiling Springs UFO Sightings in 1997
Tamaqua 1 UFO Reports Tamaqua UFO Sightings in 1997
New Florence 1 UFO Reports New Florence UFO Sightings in 1997
Harrisburg 1 UFO Reports Harrisburg UFO Sightings in 1997
Jefferson Estates 1 UFO Reports Jefferson Estates UFO Sightings in 1997
Carmichaels 1 UFO Reports Carmichaels UFO Sightings in 1997
Saxton 1 UFO Reports Saxton UFO Sightings in 1997
State College 1 UFO Reports State College UFO Sightings in 1997
Farrell 1 UFO Reports Farrell UFO Sightings in 1997
Zion Grove 1 UFO Reports Zion Grove UFO Sightings in 1997
Boyertown 1 UFO Reports Boyertown UFO Sightings in 1997
Scranton 1 UFO Reports Scranton UFO Sightings in 1997
Clarion 1 UFO Reports Clarion UFO Sightings in 1997
Jim Thorpe 1 UFO Reports Jim Thorpe UFO Sightings in 1997
West Chester 1 UFO Reports West Chester UFO Sightings in 1997
Norristown 1 UFO Reports Norristown UFO Sightings in 1997
Edinboro 1 UFO Reports Edinboro UFO Sightings in 1997
Aston 1 UFO Reports Aston UFO Sightings in 1997
Grantville 1 UFO Reports Grantville UFO Sightings in 1997
Franconia 1 UFO Reports Franconia UFO Sightings in 1997
Doylestown 1 UFO Reports Doylestown UFO Sightings in 1997
Harveys Lake 1 UFO Reports Harveys Lake UFO Sightings in 1997
Susquehanna 1 UFO Reports Susquehanna UFO Sightings in 1997
Little Marsh 1 UFO Reports Little Marsh UFO Sightings in 1997
Sciota 1 UFO Reports Sciota UFO Sightings in 1997
Albion 1 UFO Reports Albion UFO Sightings in 1997

Other Years with Reported UFO Sightings in Pennsylvania

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

Year Number of Reports View Reports
2024 19 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2024
2023 146 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2023
2022 209 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2022
2021 146 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2021
2020 323 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2020
2019 236 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2019
2018 95 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2018
2017 179 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2017
2016 203 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2016
2015 246 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2015
2014 383 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2014
2013 308 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2013
2012 298 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2012
2011 189 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2011
2010 172 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2010
2009 168 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2009
2008 193 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2008
2007 153 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2007
2006 123 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2006
2005 106 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2005
2004 137 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2004
2003 88 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2003
2002 135 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2002
2001 78 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2001
2000 73 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 2000
1999 70 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1999
1998 48 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1998
1997 39 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1997
1996 37 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1996
1995 42 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1995
1994 14 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1994
1993 10 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1993
1992 14 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1992
1991 10 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1991
1990 7 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1990
1989 7 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1989
1988 13 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1988
1987 4 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1987
1986 5 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1986
1985 9 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1985
1984 6 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1984
1983 6 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1983
1982 7 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1982
1981 5 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1981
1980 6 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1980
1979 12 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1979
1978 18 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1978
1977 12 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1977
1976 14 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1976
1975 15 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1975
1974 10 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1974
1973 16 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1973
1972 6 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1972
1971 5 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1971
1970 5 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1970
1969 11 UFO Reports Pennsylvania UFO Sightings in 1969