Circle over Payson, AZ
A witness account on file, unevaluated. Most of the archive rests here, and honestly so.
The report, as filed
Sitting on the patio about 8pm. An extremely bright white light traveling at an incredible speed crossed the sky parallel to the horizon. Sighting lasted approximately 5 seconds. During that 5 seconds the object covered approximately 30 miles based on known mountain peaks. Object appeared to be 5 to 10000’ above the mountains which are approx 6 miles from sighting location. No sound, no trail, no sonic boom. I am a pilot familiar with the area, and know the distance between peaks and landmarks.
Held as-reported from National UFO Reporting Center (record NUFORC #175681). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.
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Routed to: Federal Aviation Administration · records window 2023-05-02 → 2023-05-19
From the same sky
Related entries
December 5, 2023 · 5:55 PM · TRIANGLE
Payson, AZ
I was driving on AZ-260 near the RX wildfire, heading towards Holbrook. I looked to my left and saw a triangular shaped craft hovering in the smoke with lights visible (before the 260 Trailhead turn off). There was no noise such as propellers, jet engines, or helicopter blades. The craft didn't move but remained stationary. I later drove back in an attempt to get a picture but by then it was gone. I later heard a propeller driven plane at 6:10 PM but am not sure if this is related to my sighting.
November 18, 2022 · 6:00 PM · CIRCLE
Payson, AZ
At first, assumed they were military helicopters with how the were following each other (line and spacing) No sound, No red blinking lights, appeared to be orange balls. Slow moving, each one would get to the same spot in sky (sundown, sparse cirrus clouds), pause a few seconds, then appeared to move "up", dim and twinkle a bit, then fade out completely. Each "orange ball" respectively did exactly the same once they got to same spot as the first orange ball, until all six were gone. Seen by neighbors also.
August 21, 2022 · 11:30 PM · CIRCLE
Payson, AZ
I submitted video
April 21, 2021 · 4:30 AM · LIGHT
Payson, AZ
While I was outside on my back porch having coffee, I noticed a very large bright light in the sky towards the North side of the State. When I first spotted it, it was sitting in the air not moving. I watched it for about a minute and it slowly began moving towards the West and eventually disappeared from my view towards the West. The object also made no sound that I could tell, although it did seem to be very far away, given its brightness.
April 18, 2020 · 6:40 PM · CIGAR
Payson, AZ
April 18, 2020 1840 Payson Arizona Headed south on Arizona Highway 87 just outside of Payson mile marker 245 to 247. Driving through Payson to Phoenix Arizona I was scanning my horizon when A slow moving object caught my eye. I noted the mile marker 245 I continue to watch the object. It looked like an airplane slowing for a landing. I soon realize the object had no tail, it was just a cylinder shape that was tapered slightly at the ends. The object was moving west to east, and was 15 seconds or so in front of me. It was Low I could see it clearly in the day light and had contrast with the Mountians in the back ground. The color was not shiny but a dull gray that reflected the sun just a little. I continue to watch the cylinder object to see if it could be an airplane. Did it have wings I asked? The object began to turn towards me. I saw no wings. I saw a small soft white light. I thought that the light could be the headlight. As the object continue to turn towards me the light grew in size. Eventually the light engulfed the entire diameter of the aircraft. Then “blink” the light turned off and they was is no object or light. At this time I was at mile marker 247. Less then a minute is how long it lasted 2 miles @ 65mph. I knew at mile 248 there was a brake check area. I stopped at the brake check area got out my binoculars and got out of my truck. I began to search the skies for object or aircraft. I saw no aircraft in the sky or the object. Payson Arizona is a small town at elevation of 5000 feet it is a mountainous Arizona terrain. I estimate that the object was the same size as a submarine, smaller than the USS Ohio. Aircraft this large would never land in Payson. Nor could it have landed in that terrain. Some background Professional truck driver Military aviation( Rotary wing ) Was stationed in Hawaii.
February 24, 2017 · 8:30 PM · OTHER
Payson, AZ
Attached are (3) still photos.