Teardrop over On highway US 54 heading east in Ford County, KS

The report, as filed

This experience was the most unique of my life. I am writing to you about it, because you will not laugh and perhaps writing will help me keep thinking about it so much, although it was a great experience. I was driving home in the dark and was alone, except for my King Charles Cavalier, Daphne. Daphne is older and alerted that she had to, "go." I pulled over to the side of the highway and put Daphne on her leash and we went into the ditch. There was a tree there with only top foliage. Daphne is a friendly girl and she started wagging her tail like she always does when she sees someone. She is always enthused to meet new people. It did not make sense, because there was no one there. Suddenly there was someone there. Only the first half of the craft appeared, and the back half was invisible behind the tree and brush. I would have been able to see the entire craft if the back half hadn't been invisible. Since I couldn't see the entire craft, my best guess would be a tear drop shape. The front of the craft was a dull white and reminded me of a commercial airliner in material, except this was flat on the ground with some kind of sled runner type of structure on the bottom. The hatch was open and also reminded me of a commercial airliner hatch. This hatch was at the very front where the occupants were at the controls. Well, these occupants were just as surprised to see me as I was to see them. There was definitely something not working out for them and their craft. They looked at each other and the one on the port side continued to work at the controls which, the best I could see was like a flat desk type of surface with computer type of buttons. The inside of the small portion where the occupants were was very small. These occupants were Asian Americans and the one I spoke to next to the hatch was extremely good looking and had the most beautiful smile! They were wearing uniforms which were a slightly shiny grey and there were patches and insignia that I could not make out. They wore no head gear of any kind. But I could tell they and the whole craft was American. If there were markings on the craft they were on the back, invisible part. There were no markings on what I could see. All I know is how embarrassing the whole incident was for the occupants and I just stood in place, amazed. The man near the hatch continued to smile, especially at Daphne. Years ago, I spent a lot of time in the National Guard and enjoyed operating all of the different vehicles, so naturally I wanted to go in this one. I asked the man at the hatch if I could go with him and he laughed and smiled, and shook his head, "no." The man at the control board gave him a thumbs up, the hatch closed, and the front part disappeared too. I started feeling shook up. It was so dark without the light coming from inside the craft. I couldn't get to my car fast enough and got inside and locked all the doors, calmed down and got back on the highway. I have no idea where this craft went. I stayed approximately 8 ft. away from it and had no inclination to approach any closer. It made no noise, and my best guess would be that it was approximately 12 ft in length. What I do believe is this is American technology, and it is definitely not perfected. You have no idea how embarrassed these occupants were! I wish I could experience this again. I would have approached closer and attempted more of a conversation with them. Oh well.

Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #168608). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.