OVer Plainville, KansasOctober 1959

On October 19, 1959, a pilot flying near Plainville, Kansas spotted a bright light in the night sky. The light resembled a star the size of Venus and appeared to be heading directly toward the aircraft. As the light approached, it grew larger and took on a yellowish white color.

When the pilot took evasive action to avoid a potential collision, the light faded. It reappeared moments later and then disappeared over the horizon heading south. The entire first sighting lasted about 20 seconds. A second sighting followed roughly 10 seconds later and lasted approximately 30 seconds. During the second sighting, the light appeared at roughly the same elevation as the aircraft but then shifted further to the left of the nose before fading out.

The Air Force investigated the incident and gathered detailed information about the aircraft's position, altitude (42,000 feet), heading, and weather conditions at the time. The file notes that ceiling and visibility were unlimited, with winds at 27 degrees and 42 knots. An Air Force intelligence analysis sheet considered several explanations, including meteors and astronomical phenomena, but ultimately concluded the cause was uncertain. The initial report summary stated that information was insufficient to reach a definite conclusion, and the sighting remained unidentified.

The full case file, comprising eight pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.