Updated: 02/11/2011

Sightings Archive — 1997

The following incidents were among the sightings of alleged UFOs and the Unusual reported to researcher Stan Gordon throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states (when available). These cases have come to Stan Gordon’s attention from various sources. Many sightings that have already been identified as natural or manmade in origin are not listed. Some of these reports are still being investigated.

January, 31, 1997, 11:20 p.m.
Lycomming County

Numerous reports of a bright fireball moving across the sky followed by a sonic boom. It is my understanding that there were reports in about a 20 mile area in the vicinity of Williamsport, PA

February 2, 1997, 5:31 a.m.
Gas Center/Indiana County, PA

A bright green glow was reported in the sky, and something reportedly fell from the sky with an explosion. It was later determined that lights were caused by a military unit on maneuvers in the area, shooting off flares.

February 9, 1997
Susquehanna County, PA

People ice skating in a rural area, reportedly saw a big green flash in the sky. More than one light seen, where object broke away from each other, made unusual maneuvers before exiting the area.

April 13, 1997, 9:45 p.m
Pittsburgh area, PA

High up in the sky, what appeared to be two rectangular shaped lights that were side by side and motionless. The lights were observed for several minutes before clouds came in and obscured the viewing. Similar reports came in from the Bethel Park and South Hills area.

April 15, 1997
Salisbury, MD

Received a report from Salisbury, MD. About a silent rectangular shaped object, moving towards the Northwest at a fast speed.

April 22, 1997
New Stanton, PA

Two witnesses reported a large cigar shaped object hovering above a school. As they watched, a section of the object opened, and a bright orange light was seen emanating from within the object. This light was seen for about a minute before it closed again, then disappeared. Several minutes later the object was observed again near a playground, once again hovered, then opened and emitted the light, then soon vanished from sight.

June 14, 1997, 9:40 p.m.
South Park area of Pittsburgh, PA

A group of people observed an somewhat dark elongated shape that appeared to have two oval shaped lights side by side within it. The witnesses used binoculars, and were able to observe the strange sight for almost 15 minutes.

June 14, 1997
Latrobe, PA

A woman reported a similar shaped object to what was reported in South Park earlier that evening. She saw it over the Chestnut Ridge where it was dropping from the sky and began to approach in her direction. The lights passed silently over her home, but caused the dogs in the area to become very upset.

July 14, 1997
Whitney, PA

A couple was traveling down rural road bordering near the Chestnut Ridge area, when they noticed some unusual animal reactions along the way. They saw 3 to 4 deer run across the road ahead, one deer ran into a tree. Then a couple of rabbits began to move around as if disturbed by something. The passengers then report that they saw a very large round deep reddish-orange colored ball just over the tree tops. The light was so bright that it hurt their eyes to look at it. They described it as "looking like a light bulb under a red glass." They saw the object moving among the trees for about 3/4 of a mile before losing sight of it. The people say that they also noticed some crackling on their FM radio about the time they saw the object.

July 15, 1997
New Stanton, PA

In the early morning hours, witness says he saw a large circular object, with a red glow below it, and making a humming sound moving about 200 feet above the trees on his property. The witness attempted to video tape the object with his camcorder, but stated that it would shut off when he tried to record even with the use of two different batteries.

July 31, 1997, 9:00 p.m.
Indiana County

A man and his young son were fishing about 9 p.m. A large round object with 3 to 4 amber beams of light approached low over trees. The beams seemed to be scanning over the area. The boy became frightened and they got into their car. The object began to drop lower, and reportedly followed the pair in their car for a distance. The car appeared to nearly stall out at times during the occurrence.

August, 1997
Lake Chatauqua, Chataqua County, NY

Around 2 p.m. a man was fishing on the lake when he noticed a shiny and metallic spinning object. The object was approaching him, and it passed high above him. The object reportedly disappeared when it was above him, then later was seen again moving south in the direction of Warren, PA. (Via researcher Scott Corrales)

August 1, 1997 8 p.m.
Kutztown, PA

Two men were traveling on I-78 near Kutztown exit. They observed a brilliant object that appeared to be motionless just above the trees in the distance. The object crossed over the roadway, and went down behind some trees, and then it moved about 50 feet above a field. About two hours later, they stated to have seen the object again in the same area hovering about 100 feet above the ground. At one point they passed almost directly underneath, and they could see what appeared to be two white spheres encompassed with an amber glow.

September 14, 1997, 7:30 p.m.
Republic, PA

About 7:30 p.m., a man was out with his dogs in this rural Fayette county community. He observed a black object in front of some trees, approximately 30 feet above the ground. The object was 10 to 15 feet in length, and somewhat oblong in shape. But soon the object either changed shape or possibly rotated on it's side then looked more triangular. The object moved behind the trees and was lost from sight. His one dog quickly ran back to the house, while the other dog ran for the woods. The second dog could be heard barking excitedly. Suddenly a bright white light shot up from the woods and quickly disappeared. (Via researcher Jim Brown)

October 2, 1997
Clarion, PA

A woman working in her kitchen hears a strange vibrating type sound. Her daughter runs inside and describes a silver metallic, flat elongated object with a dome on top. At the bottom of the object there a four lights which are extremely bright. Also at the bottom of the object, were two areas where two projections like fire were being emitted. The object was hovering about 100-150 feet in the air. Her young daughter was upset and said that the object was very close.

October 9, 1997
Norvelt, PA

Witness in car reported a large object, shaped like a stingray with two white lights in front, and various other colored lights on it's surface, passed over his vehicle at a low altitude, and stayed with the car for a short time before exiting the area. There were three bubble like appendages at the bottom of the object. The witness thought he detected a low jet sound. He estimated the size of the object at around 65 to 70 feet in length, and 85 to 90 feet across the wing span or tip to tip. He estimated it was about 500 feet above him.

October 22, 1997
Bradford, PA

Researcher Scott Corrales reports that people claim to have seen a squarish series of four yellow lights that move quietly across the sky.

October 30, 1997
Greater Pittsburgh Area

There were a number of reports from the Greater Pittsburgh area reporting strange formations of lights in the sky. Some of the lights appeared to be side by side. The lights reported changed direction, broke away then rejoined others. There were formations of up to three lights that moved in various directions. Some described yellow, blue and red lights being observed.

November 11, 1997
Blairsville, PA

Traveling on Route 22 east, a couple in a car saw a bright white round light, that was illuminated from behind the clouds. Other cars were stopping to view the strange sight as well. The light was very large, and luminescent.

December 1, 1997
Pittsburgh, PA

Man walking a dog noticed stationary white light in the sky. It didn't move for a couple of minutes until aircraft came into area, then the light moved towards the west. This object now had a red blinking light on it, making the witness unsure if it was an aircraft. Just then to the left of this object, a bright nearly round red light suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and began a somewhat wobbling vertical downwards trajectory. In about 5 seconds this second light had disappeared. The original light was still moving slowly in the distant sky.