Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO.

Home

Report a UFO Sighting

Radio Archives

Events

Archives

Resources

About Us

Contact Us

Sighting Reports

Man Sees Large Unknown Object Chased by Jets.

Pilot Sightings

Radar Detection.

Witness Audio Recordings

Top Cases

Sighting Maps

2 Witnesses See 2 Wing Shaped Objects With Blue Light

Panels.

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO.

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Administrator

NOTE: THIS INVESTIGATION IS IN PROGRESS.

PERIODICALLY CHECK THIS SITE FOR UPDATES

UFOs Northwest & a Team of UtahInvestigators headed by MUFONDirector
Erica Lukes are Working on This Case.
Location of Sighting: Near Nephi, Utah
Date of Sighting: January 14, 2016
Time of Sighting: Between 12:12 and 12:13 AM MST

Photos

Xfiles

News

Special Reports

Most Recent UFO Reports

Flat, All White Object That Pulsed
in Brightness Seen in Sky.
Bright Orb Hovers Over Car.
Lights Flickered & Eye Irritation
Noted.
Boomerang Shaped Object Larger
than 777 Seen by Helicopter Pilot.
Man Sees Hovering Orange Object
in Sky. Photos Taken.
5 to 6 White Lights Form an
Ellipse in the Sky.
Multiple Witnesses See Green
Light Fall From Sky in 2 Seconds.
Strange Skeleton Found Wrapped
in Sheet in Remote Area.
Woman Sees 3 Diamond Shaped &
Saucer Shaped Objects.

Search
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Video Clips

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

Voice Transmission of Airline Pilot Reporting Possible UFO (YouTube):

Watch Animation of Radar Returns from 12:08 to 12:15 AM MST (YouTube):

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Search

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG 1 VISUAL TRACE OF AUDIO FILE. LIKELY REDACT AROUND 12:11 MST.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG2 RADAR SHOWING PATH OF AIRCRAFT & UNKNOWN RADAR RETURNS.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG3 ZOOM IN MAP OF RETURNS NEAR NEPHI.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG4 ZOOMED OUT MAP SHOWING ISOLATED AREA OF RADAR RETURNS NEAR NEPHI, UT.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG5 DOPPLER RADAR PAINT NEAR LOCATION & TIME OF UFO SIGHTING.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG6 LOCATIONS OF RADAR SITE AND POSSIBLE UFO SITE.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG7 ALL PRIMARY RETURNS MIDNIGHT TO 12:30 AM.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG 8 TERRAIN PLOT OF PRIMARY RETURNS 12 TO 12:30 AM MST.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

FIG9 MAP OF MILITARY OPERATION AREAS UTAH.

Background: This case was reported to me by Erica Lukes who is the director of MUFON
for the state of Utah. She knows a radio show host (Pat Daniels) who was scanning
communications between aircraft and the FAA shortly after midnight on January 14,
2016. He heard a conversation between an airline pilot and Air Route Traffic Control.
The pilot reported seeing an extremely large bright object that he estimated a mile wide to

his right. The air traffic controller told him that he was looking in the direction of Nephi,
Utah. Apparently the air traffic controller told
the pilot that the object was not detected on
radar. The object appeared to keep pace with the aircraft.
A Freedom of Information (FOIA) request was written to the Federal Aviation
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

Administration (FAA). About six weeks later we received a response to the FOIA. The
response consisted of radar returns, voice tapes and tower logs. The FAA is to be
commended for their full andtimely response to our request.
Research showed that the aircraft was American Airlines Flight Number
434 which was
enroute from San Francisco, CA to Philadelphia, PA. The actual sighting time was
between 12:12 and 12:13 AM MST on January 14, 2016. We were able to find segments of
the conversation on the Air Traffic Control archives website, but much of conversation
was deleted. One could hear the controller telling the pilot that Nephi, Utah was off
to his
right and the pilot acknowledging the transmission. However, the
UFO report was not on
the tape. The ham radio operator did not record the conversation so the UFO report
could not be heard. He heard the conversation on the frequency of 127.95 mhz.
Update: March 4, 2016. The voice tape obtained from
the FAA (see above) does fill in
some of the transmission missing from the tape from the Air Traffic Control archives
website. The only thing not included from the original transmission was the estimated
size of the object and the and the conversation where the FAA said that the object was not
detected on radar. The airline crew described the object as alarge orange square.
An animation was constructed for each revolution of the radar (12 seconds). The radar
animation frames are speeded up to one second/revolution in the animation. (Animation
follows voice tape above.) The animation shows 1 to 3 returns for each revolution of the

radar. There are a few rotations where no returns are detected. This is strange. There is no
detected conventional movement and the returns vary
from 0 to 3 over the 7 minute
period. The time period is from 12:08 to 12:15 AM MST which is a few minutes before and
after the pilot reported the strange object. One wonders if the object was moving
erratically and
perhaps was rotating exposing more or less radar cross sectional area

resulting in no detection or a different number of returns? The object could have been
large considering this type of radar signature?
A visual trace of the FAA tape is shown in Figure 1. Pat Daniels (ham
radio operator)
stated in a radio interview that the aircraft radioed the FAA and inquired whether radar
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

showed anything in the area of their sighting. This conversation was around a minute
before the conversation where the FAA told the crew that the town to the right was Nephi,
Utah. There was some conversation in this time frame. (See annotation in Figure 1.)
However, the conversation has been deleted and only a second or two not redacted. The
question is why did the FAA redact this conversation? According to Pat Daniels the crew
did not announce their flight number when they first sighted the object. So perhaps the
FAA didnt include it for that reason. Or perhaps they
did not want the public to hear the
conversation? In the recorded conversation starting just after 12:12 AM the crew was
talking about their sighting and the FAA responded you mean to the right. How did they
know that? They knew because they had it on radar.
Figure2 above shows the route of the aircraft. The aircraft was flying at 31,000 feet and
530 knots at the time of sighting. The pilot reported the sighting to the FAA around 12:12
AM. (See Figure 2.) The pilot stated that he had been watching a large square of orange
light for sometime and that the object was off his nose. The aircraft was headed in an
ENE direction. The radar shows a dense area of returns at approximately the 2 oclock
position at the time of the sighting.However, the returns would have at near a 12 oclock
position beforehand as the
pilot had been watching the object for sometime and was
heading in an ENE direction. These returns are quite isolated and very numerous. They

are likely not birds, angels, ground targets or anomalous propagation. (See discussion
below of anomalous propagation.)
Figure3 above is a zoom in of the radar returns to the SW of Nephi. The time is from
12:08 to 12:15 AM which is the time that the crew saw the object(s). The map shows a
large area of returns near and to the East of I-15. The returns are not traffic as the radar is
too far away to detect ground targets.
The zoom out map (Figure4) shows the concentration of radar returns just to the SW of
Nephi. The
returns are in the position and time observed by airline crew. Note that most
of the radar map is devoid of returns except in the area immediately to the SW of Nephi.
The Doppler radar map for Salt Lake City was also obtained. (See Figure 5). The map does
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

show some returns to the Northeast of Nephi at the time of the sighting. The radar was
operating in clear air mode which means that the gain is turned up making it more

sensitive. (See radar map above.)

Figure6 above shows the location of the 2 radar sites used in the analysis. One radar
(Cedar City, UT) is about 155 miles to the
SSW of sighting location. The other radar
(Francis Peak, UT) is about 90 miles to the north. These returns were likely true objects
and probably quite large given the distance from the radar sites.
I also took a look at the radar returns for the entire time period of
my radar request which
was from midnight to 12:30 AM MST. Figure7 above shows all of the returns for this
time period near Nephi. Returns were found for each minute from midnight to 12:30 AM
in the sighting area. In all 106 radar returns were detected. This means that the object(s)
were there before and after the sighting. The returns in Figure7 almost
look a gridded
radar map. Figure8 shows the plot of
these returns on a Google Earth relief map. It is
fairly obvious that the returns are not due to the radar reflecting from higher terrain. A

few of elevations are displayed. There was very little elevation change in the area of the
returns.
Radar Propagation Analysis:

Atmospheric conditions can cause radar waves to bend downward or upward causing
false returns or showing returns in the wrong location. Also there is a possibility that
radar returns may be reflected off of higher terrain. (However, this is generally not the

case as aviation radar is designed to not detect stationary targets.) However, Doppler
weather radar can detect higher terrain and result in false returns. Figure8 shows very
little elevation change in the area of the returns.
Watch Slide Show of Photos of UFO Sighting Area (YouTube):

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

The above slide show of photos taken by Utah MUFON Assistant State Director show no
anomalies in area that could possibly cause radar returns.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. FIG10 TABLE OF RADAR REFRACTIVE INDEX CALCULATIONS CEDAR CITY RADAR.

FIG11 TABLE OF RADAR REFRACTIVE INDEX CALCULATIONS FRANCIS PEAK RADAR

Both of the aviation radars were at considerably higher altitude than

the target detect area.
The Cedar City aviation radar (155 miles to the
SSW) was at an elevation of 10,760 feet
above sea level which is over 5,000 feet higher than the target area. The Francis Peak
aviation radar (88 miles to the north) was at an elevation of 9,324 feet which is nearly
4,000 feet above the target detect area. Given this scenario it is unlikely that the radar
waves would be refracted abnormally because the waves would be above any surface

temperature inversions over lower terrain. Figure6 shows the locations of the two
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

aviation radars with respect to the target detect area.

Figure10 above is a table of computed radar refractivity gradients/1,000 Feet for the
Cedar City, UT radar. Figure 11 is a similar table for the Francis Peak, UT radar. The tables
show pressure levels, heights of pressure surfaces ASL, temperature, dew point

temperature in degrees C, refractivity index and the gradient of refractivity index per
1,000 feet. The data were obtained from the weather balloon sounding of the atmosphere
from Las Vegas, NV for the Cedar City radar. Data were obtained from the weather
balloon sounding at Salt Lake City, UT for the Francis Peak radar. For both radar sites the
refraction gradients are small and well within
the normal atmospheric propagation of 0 to
-24/1,000 feet. Given that fact the radars were at high elevations (over 10,000 feet for the
Cedar City radar and over 9,300 feet for the Francis Peak radar) and given the
values in
the above tables the probability of anomalous radar propagation (false returns or returns
in the wrong location) is nearly 0.
Comments From Martin Shough, Retired Air Traffic Controller & Radar
Expert -England:
As for the radar, youre right that those primaries clustered around
the interstate are not traffic and AP seems not to be relevant. You might get multiple-trip
ghosts from (say) remote mountains appearing
at almost any displayed range, but theyd
be random with respect to local features. In this case I do get the sense of some
correlation with the road, but I dont know why. I doubt AP would look like this. Theres
no significant terrain here. No airfield (although there is a small airfield and heliport to
the NE at Nephi). I have absolutely no idea what they are.
Preliminary Interpretation of Voice Tapes and Radar Data:

More analysis is being conducted for this case. My preliminary impressions follow:
1. Pilot reports a large unusual orange square of lights while flying at 31,000 feet.
2. Thefirst conversation where the crewasked if the object was on radar& the FAA

responded saying that the object was not on radar was likely redacted (seeFigure 1).
3.The radar shows a dense area of returns at the exact position and time reported by the
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

pilot.

4. These dense returns are well removed from radar sites.

The closest site was about 90
miles to the north at Francis Peak, Utah.
The other radar was located at Cedar City, Utah
about 155 miles to the SSW. (See Figure6 above.)

5. These returns are not due to military operations. There are several restricted military

operations areas (MOAs) in Utah, but Nephi is well outside of these area. (See Figure 9
above.)

6. These returns are not drones. Regular

drones would not be likely detected at the long
distances from the radar sites. Military drones would be detected, but they would not be
in
the area. (See Figure6 above.)

7. These returns are likely not due to anomalous propagation. (See Figure 10 and 11.)
Anomalous propagation generally starts closer to the radar antenna.

8. Birds, weather targets would not be detected in an isolated area that far from the radar
sites.

9. Radar angels are sometimes observed. These are false targets, but there would not be
that many of them that far removed from the radar sites.

10. The object(s) were likely at the sighting location before and after the time that the
crew sighted the object(s). Figure7 above shows returns for each minute from midnight to
12:30 AM MST.

9. Of course keep in mind that the pilot crew saw a large square area of
orange lights so
the radar and observation corroborate each other.
Where Do We Go From Here? Erica Lukes and her team of investigators have ran an
ad in the local newspaper to see if other people have seen anything unusual. She
conversed with the manager of a local truck stop near the sighting location and was told
that UFOs are frequently sighted in the area. One investigator believes that the crew
sighted lights from a local power point (Currant Creek Plant Mona, UT). To me this
doesnt explain the sighting as the conglomerate of radar returns suggests something

unusual. Also I would expect that the same crew had flown this same route before. If this
was true, why would they ask the FAA about the location?
Request: Any passengers on American Airlines Fight number 434 are urged to
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

file a report
if they saw anything unusual on the flight. Please note the time of your
sighting in the report. The flight left San Francisco at 10:08 PM PST on Wed, Jan 13, 2016
and arrived at Philadelphia at 5:35 AM EST on Jan 14, 2016.

This entry was posted in 2016, audio, Pilot sighting, Radar Detection., Special Reports, Top Cases Received Since
2012, Unidentified, Utah. Bookmark the permalink.
Man Sees Large Unknown Object Chased by Jets.

2 Witnesses See 2 Wing Shaped Objects With Blue Light

Panels.

15 Responses to Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines

Pilot Report UFO.
Barbara Griffith says:

February 6, 2016 at 11:06 pm

You know something I think these pilots see UFOs all the time, but the public
doesnt know about it. All they can do is report it to the tower, but this is another
case of the object not showing up on tower radar which renders it radar invisible.
If radar cant pick it up, it may have the same coating
on it the stealth bomber has.
The size of this thing must have been gigantic.
Administrator says:

February 7, 2016 at 11:42 am

Hi:

I agree with everything that you said. One wonders how many UFOs are
reported by pilots? I am going to take a look at the aviation data to be sure
that nothing showed up. The weather radar did show some returns near
the location, but saying this was the UFO is speculative.

Westcoaster says:
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

February 7, 2016 at 11:16 pm

I read somewhere recently UFOs such as this may not show up because it doesnt
match the radars expected parameters for aircraft, so either the radar doesnt
process a return because its too big to be an aircraft and the radar thinks its
weather and deletes it. Seems to me older analog radar would show anything that
produced a return, but
the newer digital stuff can be fine-tuned by software.
Anyhow, something to think about. I hope this pilot isnt red flagged for reporting
it.
Administrator says:

February 8, 2016 at 9:23 pm

Hi:
Good comments. Some radar data sets are filtered removing false aircraft
returns such as birds, weather, angels, etc. The type of radar
dump that I
requested probably wont have these filters applied? I also believe that
many UFOs are not detected by radar because of their stealthy design
(flying disks, triangles).
Thad says:

February 10, 2016 at 4:41 pm

I doubt that the pilot will be red flagged. That might be why these types of
conversations are deleted from
the records. If the pilots knew their UFO
comments were not going to be
deleted, they might be much more
reluctant to say anything at all.
Administrator says:
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

February 10, 2016 at 8:16 pm

Thanks. Good comments.

Ed Sanborn says:

February 10, 2016 at 5:49 am

If you want to get a better sense as to how many pilots report UFOs you should
check out the research by Richard
Haines. He has investigated and catalogued
quite a few reports from pilots.

Visit http://www.narcap.org
He is one of the best researchers of the subject.
Administrator says:

February 10, 2016 at 8:18 pm

Hi:
Yes, I am a friend of Dr. Haines and have done several

radar/meteorological analyses for NARCAP cases. NARCAP is only

interested in cases where pilots take evasive action due to the UFO.
Apparently that was not the case here.

Brad says:

February 10, 2016 at 8:09 am

I have driven the I-15 corridor between Cedar City and Salt Lake many times. I
have seen a BIG, long, silver cigar shape crossing between Beaver and Nephi in
http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

the past.
Brad says:

February 10, 2016 at 8:09 am

I forgot to say that I have driven it hundreds of times in the last couple
decades.
Administrator says:

February 10, 2016 at 8:30 pm

Hi:
Thanks for your comments. It is good to know that the area has a history
of UFO activity.

ryan skinner says:

February 11, 2016 at 12:54 pm

Skinwalker Ranch is to the east. Utah is a UFO Mecca.

Administrator says:

February 11, 2016 at 8:47 pm

Yes, weird things happen at the Skinwalker Ranch. Could be related to

what was sighted?

Richard says:

February 11, 2016 at 3:59 pm

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]

Ham Radio Operator Hears American Airlines Pilot Report UFO. -

It is great to read these reports. It is amazing what hams hear on their radios. I am
a licenced operator too and I have heard all sorts on the scanner over the years,
but never a UFO sighting being reported.
Administrator says:

February 11, 2016 at 8:46 pm

Hi:
Keep listening. You may hear a UFO report.

Proudly powered by WordPress.

http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/ham-radio-operator-hears-american-airlines-pilot-report-ufo/[20/03/2016 23:14:37]