Take Me to Your Leader
Menu
Civilian reports · Source: NUFORC

UFO sightings in North Carolina

There are 148 civilian UFO sighting reports from North Carolina in the NUFORC data on this site, dated 1961 to 2013. The busiest year was 2011, with 21 reports. The shapes witnesses reported most were orb (46), disc (21) and sphere (21).

Most reports come from Charlotte (15), Raleigh (6) and Wilmington (6), out of 94 places in the state with at least one report.

By place

UFO sightings by city in North Carolina

Places with at least three reports. 84 other places in North Carolina have one or two.

The reports

Recent sighting reports from North Carolina

The 100 most recent of 148 reports, newest first. The full set is on the map and in the list view.

Witness onlyCivilian accounts. Not checked by this site.
  1. 27 Oct 2013 · 20:30Winston-SalemOther· 20 min

    Stationary bright white light

    Show on map
  2. 25 Oct 2013 · 20:30Lake LureOrb· 15 min

    Bright orb that disappeared as I was watching it.

    Show on map
  3. 24 Oct 2013 · 19:30Fuquay VarinaOrb· 30 min

    Strange lights near Raleigh, NC.

    Show on map
  4. 23 Oct 2013 · 21:30WashingtonOther· 10 min

    Loud vibrating low hum.

    Show on map
  5. 19 Oct 2013 · 21:53CharlotteSphere· 7 min

    Three orange orbs seen by me and a witness at Food Lion parking lot.

    Show on map
  6. 17 Oct 2013 · 21:15Carolina BeachSphere· 2 s

    Bright orange circles over Atlantic Ocean 3 in a row. It was only seconds in the sky then they disappeared.

    Show on map
  7. 15 Oct 2013 · 20:30Ocean Isle BeachOrb· 3 s

    A string of five orange lights.

    Show on map
  8. 15 Oct 2013 · 20:00YadkinvilleOther· 8 min

    A bright light shifting from a circular light to a saucerlike line of light.

    Show on map
  9. 14 Oct 2013 · 16:45CharlotteSphere· 4 min

    White object slowed to a stop. Remained motionless about a minute and disappeared.

    Show on map
  10. 12 Oct 2013 · 20:20MorgantonOrb· 5 min

    Red/orange lights.

    Show on map
  11. 2 Oct 2013 · 00:08MarshvilleOther· 10 s

    Strange glowing line moving across the sky.

    Show on map
  12. 24 Oct 2012 · 20:30Ocean IsleOrb· 15 min

    These lights are unexplanable and frightening.

    Show on map
  13. 24 Oct 2012 · 20:00Ocean Isle BeachSphere· 1 h

    Red/Orange lights over Ocean Isle Beach, NC.

    Show on map
  14. 24 Oct 2012 · 20:00Sunset BeachOther· 45 min

    Strange noises

    Show on map
  15. 22 Oct 2012 · 22:00SalisburyAmorphous· 1 h

    Up to 3 objects spotted now for 2 years. would love to have answers!!

    Show on map
  16. 21 Oct 2012 · 03:00New BernTriangle· 3 h

    I realized that at about 3:00 am as I was going outback to see the Orionid meteor shower that there was a strange jumble of lights on t

    Show on map
  17. 20 Oct 2012 · 19:30BunnOrb· 5 min

    2 fireballs traveling across the sky

    Show on map
  18. 19 Oct 2012 · 23:59FaisonDisc· 2 s

    Faison NC, a bright oval object flashed above 3 friends and I, lit he whole area up.

    Show on map
  19. 16 Oct 2012 · 20:40Wrightsville BeachTriangle· 20 s

    Triangular Shaped Craft over Wrightville Beach, North Carolina

    Show on map
  20. 14 Oct 2012 · 15:30RaleighCigar· 1 min

    A black cylindrical object seen fairly close to an airplane during daytime

    Show on map
  21. 13 Oct 2012 · 23:30New BernSphere· 2 min

    2 red, silent, flying orbs

    Show on map
  22. 13 Oct 2012 · 01:38CaryOrb· 4 s

    Prior to this event, there was about 25-60 seconds of a very low vibrating hum that was almost piercing because it hit so many decibels

    Show on map
  23. 2 Oct 2012 · 21:00ConoverSphere· 15 min

    Sighted 3 red and white crafts moving back and forth quickly in the sky without sound in Hickory, and friends in Salisbury saw too.

    Show on map
  24. 2 Oct 2012 · 10:15SanfordTriangle· 3 min

    Light formation

    Show on map
  25. 27 Oct 2011 · 08:00Duck IslandSphere· 5 min

    Object came out of the ocean about a half mile away.We thought it was a helicopter at first and it was getting shiney as it looked lik

    Show on map
  26. 26 Oct 2011 · 23:00CandlerDisc· 2 min

    Multiple/Re-occurring U.F.O. Sightings in Candler, NC

    Show on map
  27. 25 Oct 2011 · 09:00TroyRectangle· 2 min

    I was driving home about 9:00 and in the sky above right above the tree was the bright

    Show on map
  28. 25 Oct 2011 · 09:00TroyRectangle· 2 min

    I was driving home about 9:00 and in the sky was a bright rectangle light just sitting above the tree's right in front of me. I did not

    Show on map
  29. 24 Oct 2011 · 19:30CharlotteCigar· 1 min

    Yellow/orange cigar shaped object over Charlotte, NC

    Show on map
  30. 23 Oct 2011 · 15:00WillardCigar· 2 min

    Cigar shaped object seen in Willard NC sky.

    Show on map
  31. 23 Oct 2011 · 06:30GastoniaOther· 4 min

    We have our photos and thats all you need t prove our strange sightings.

    Show on map
  32. 21 Oct 2011 · 20:00BooneOrb· 30 s

    Large red objected spotted in Boone, NC.

    Show on map
  33. 21 Oct 2011 · 19:25BooneOther· 10 s

    Large red/orange object spotted over Boone, NC.

    Show on map
  34. 21 Oct 2011 · 10:00BurnsvilleOrb· 15 min

    UPDATE Burnsville, NC SITING

    Show on map
  35. 21 Oct 2011 · 08:00BurnsvilleOrb· 15 min

    Changin Lights in the Sky!

    Show on map
  36. 20 Oct 2011 · 21:30Cove CityDisc· 30 s

    green oval light spotted over US-70

    Show on map
  37. 17 Oct 2011 · 21:45LibertyOrb· 15 s

    large orange bright light with a red aura around it hoovered above the tree line and then took off.

    Show on map
  38. 17 Oct 2011 · 20:00FriscoDisc· 30 min

    Orange oval shaped light that split into four different lights over the ocean. This happened three different times over 30 minutes.

    Show on map
  39. 17 Oct 2011 · 20:00LelandFormation· 5 min

    Three glowing lights moving slowly across the sky.

    Show on map
  40. 16 Oct 2011 · 22:00GreensboroOther· 1 min

    2 speeding orange-red lights, zigzagging, with one seemingly bouncing off the other a few times.

    Show on map
  41. 14 Oct 2011 · 05:00WhitakersTriangle· 4 min

    triange ufo with red lights

    Show on map
  42. 13 Oct 2011 · 20:30AvonOrb· 15 min

    31 orange balls of light coming out of ocean,silent

    Show on map
  43. 12 Oct 2011 · 20:00Ocean Isle BeachOrb· 20 min

    I am a 55 year old business owner from Raleigh, NC and have been an FAA licensed pilot for 37 years. I have an interest in astronomy

    Show on map
  44. 11 Oct 2011 · 21:10Holden BeachSphere· 30 s

    6 orange balls of light over the Atlantic ocean.

    Show on map
  45. 1 Oct 2011 · 20:00WilmingtonTriangle· 5 min

    Triangle... very dim lights, no noise, around all outer edges, moving slowly, very low... went out of sight over UNCW campus

    Show on map
  46. 27 Oct 2010 · 21:52WilmingtonRectangle· 2 min

    Large Black Rectangle - 2 white lights - 1 red slow pulsing light

    Show on map
  47. 27 Oct 2010 · 20:15AshevilleOrb· 30 min

    Two gaslike lights moving in circular manner in southern sky

    Show on map
  48. 24 Oct 2010 · 21:00HuntersvilleSphere· 1 h

    white lights high in the skies over huntersviile, nc moving very fast at all different directs. sit outside wherever you are and look

    Show on map
  49. 22 Oct 2010 · 21:00CatawbaOther· 10 min

    3 lights to the south.

    Show on map
  50. 22 Oct 2010 · 17:15GarnerDisc· 1 min

    UFO SIGHTING RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA

    Show on map
  51. 20 Oct 2010 · 20:00HillsboroughOther· 1 min

    Orange UFO exploded by something.

    Show on map
  52. 19 Oct 2010 · 21:19BurnsvilleOther· 2 min

    3 sets of 3 lights hovering silently in night sky

    Show on map
  53. 19 Oct 2010 · 20:15RaleighOrb· 15 s

    2 objects that looked like bright stars moving in parallel about 45 degrees above the horizon

    Show on map
  54. 17 Oct 2010 · 01:00Blowing RockOther· 1 min

    Star like object that pulsed a bright red then disappeared.

    Show on map
  55. 16 Oct 2010 · 00:00CaswellOrb· 1 h

    it was not a air craft it moved to slow

    Show on map
  56. 15 Oct 2010 · 16:20CharlotteCigar· 10 s

    Silver to turquise in color size of a car near charlotte motor speed way.

    Show on map
  57. 13 Oct 2010 · 21:00CharlotteOrb· 10 min

    5 pulsating lights above Charlotte, NC

    Show on map
  58. 1 Oct 2010 · 19:45FayettevilleOrb· 5 min

    FAST RED LIGHT WITH SLOWER BUT LARGER WHITE LIGHTS FALLING

    Show on map
  59. 26 Oct 2009 · 20:25RaleighOrb· 5 min

    20 flickering red lights in imperfect succession, floating up and vanishing into the clouds.

    Show on map
  60. 22 Oct 2009 · 00:00Deep GapDisc· 1 day

    Five lighted craft dance about Orion during a meteor shower, spotted from the Appalachian Mountains.

    Show on map
  61. 20 Oct 2009 · 01:55BurnsvilleAmorphous· 2 min

    Star-like, color changing triangle shape object

    Show on map
  62. 18 Oct 2009 · 00:00RaleighOther· 2 min

    Bright light/hovering craft seen in raleigh near state fair around midnight.

    Show on map
  63. 10 Oct 2009 · 20:45WilmingtonOrb· 10 min

    Two lights seen with a lighting of something strobe like near the ground.

    Show on map
  64. 22 Oct 2008 · 21:00CharlotteOther· 5 min

    Strange lights over the highway not a plane or helicopter.

    Show on map
  65. 21 Oct 2008 · 13:00FayettevilleDisc· 6 s

    Anomalous aircraft seen over Fayetteville N.C. citizen.

    Show on map
  66. 20 Oct 2008 · 10:20JacksonvilleOther· 5 min

    Bright white light seen over jacksonville, moving in odd directions and fading until unseen.

    Show on map
  67. 18 Oct 2008 · 23:00AshevilleDiamond· 5 s

    SILVER OBJECT IN ASHEVILLE N.C.

    Show on map
  68. 16 Oct 2008 · 20:00HavelockOrb· 1 s

    Bright, white, extremely large meteor-like object seen in night sky.

    Show on map
  69. 15 Oct 2008 · 00:22ArdenTriangle· 4 s

    Black Triangle crossing the face of the moon viewed from a 8" Dobsonian Telescope with star tracking software

    Show on map
  70. 11 Oct 2008 · 13:00SalisburySphere· 20 s

    7 UNKOWN AIRBORN OBJECT'S SEEN OVER SALISBURY NC..SEARCH GRID WITNESSED!!..

    Show on map
  71. 2 Oct 2008 · 05:10BensonOther· 30 s

    unknown looking craft

    Show on map
  72. 1 Oct 2008 · 20:00WilsonSphere· 10 min

    Star shaped light blinking and rotating - then two of same lights after cloud went over and began to move

    Show on map
  73. 21 Oct 2007 · 02:00MooresvilleOther· 8 s

    4 bright lights traveling at a very high rate of speed.

    Show on map
  74. 13 Oct 2007 · 20:28MooresvilleOrb· 5 min

    Three large, round, bright orange lights coming together in the form of a rotating triangle

    Show on map
  75. 1 Oct 2007 · 20:00TryonOrb· 10 s

    Strange lights in NC sky.

    Show on map
  76. 1 Oct 2007 · 19:00BeulavilleTriangle· 5 s

    Green Glowing Triangular Craft

    Show on map
  77. 1 Oct 2007 · 09:50CharlotteOrb· 20 min

    4 DOTS OF LIGHT AROUND MOON MID MORNING TODAY

    Show on map
  78. 18 Oct 2006 · 17:00WilmingtonCigar· 5 min

    Bright Silver - went left to right fast. went away, came back did same thing then disappeared.

    Show on map
  79. 15 Oct 2006 · 21:00CharlotteOrb· 10 s

    BRIGHT LIGHT TRAVELING IN STRAIGHT LINE FROM HORIZON TO HORIZON

    Show on map
  80. 15 Oct 2006 · 19:00Silver CitySphere· 30 min

    Black Circle seen hovering in Carolina sky.

    Show on map
  81. 27 Oct 2005 · 20:00JacksonvilleDisc· 30 min

    Observed bright disc shaped object with three red pulsating lights on the bottom for about 30 minutes.

    Show on map
  82. 23 Oct 2005 · 19:40JacksonvilleTriangle· 2 min

    1 FLYING TRIANGLE VERY SLOW AND LOW THEM COMES BACK OR THERE WERE 2 OF THEM?

    Show on map
  83. 15 Oct 2005 · 16:00CaryOther· 5 min

    My friends and I where jokeing around outside and i got shoved and fell then I saw the craft it was moveing about 100-200 mph at proubl

    Show on map
  84. 10 Oct 2005 · 23:00HendersonvilleOrb· 10 min

    Last night, October 10, at about 11:00PM for about ten minutes I observed a peculiar point source light in the Eastern sky. It was at a

    Show on map
  85. 24 Oct 2004 · 23:17WeavervilleSphere· 5 s

    I saw a ball of white light plummet at a 45 degree angle, with the white tail displaying bands of color (spectrum) just before impact.

    Show on map
  86. 22 Oct 2004 · 08:00High PointOther· 45 s

    Very fast and turned. Not a meteor.

    Show on map
  87. 17 Oct 2004 · 18:15RaleighFormation· 5 min

    Looked like rectangle parachutes but nobody was under the canopies, objects never desended.

    Show on map
  88. 15 Oct 2004 · 19:59CalabashRectangle· 3 s

    ufo over sunset beach n.c.

    Show on map
  89. 22 Oct 2003 · 18:30CliffsideSphere· 30 s

    south of post office in cliffside. moveing east to west almost as fast as you could turn your head

    Show on map
  90. 20 Oct 2003 · 23:30KannapolisOrb· 1 min

    A long light, like a star that moved fast and kinda sparkled. Moved in full view, low in the sky in less than 60 seconds

    Show on map
  91. 20 Oct 2003 · 21:50CullowheeOrb· 3 s

    My wife and I saw a huge glowing blue ball enter the atmophere.

    Show on map
  92. 20 Oct 2003 · 20:55Indian TrailOther· 2 s

    I saw a bright light flash that lit up the sky, and I caught a glimpse of a orange/red tail die.

    Show on map
  93. 20 Oct 2003 · 20:50GreensboroOrb· 15 s

    Big brilliant white fireball, size of full moon with long white tail falling from overhead to the South of Greensboro, NC

    Show on map
  94. 20 Oct 2003 · 20:45ClaytonOrb· 15 s

    witness to the too close meteor in durham, nc. : meteor or ufo?

    Show on map
  95. 20 Oct 2003 · 20:45VanceboroOrb· 15 s

    large yellow fireball with long green tail

    Show on map
  96. 20 Oct 2003 · 20:00SwannanoaOrb· 4 s

    On Mon. Oct. 20, 2003 at approximately 8:45 PM I saw a fireball like object streak across sky in a east to west direction.

    Show on map
  97. 18 Oct 2003 · 01:00PurlearOther· 2 h

    for 2 hours observed object moving slightly colored lights blinking randomly

    Show on map
  98. 2 Oct 2003 · 19:13CharlotteDisc· 2 min

    small orange oblong craft seen over Charlotte, NC at 19:14 on October 02, 2003

    Show on map
  99. 13 Oct 2002 · 19:00SmithfieldDisc· 35 min

    I SAW 2 DISK SHAPED OBJECTS OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.

    Show on map
  100. 21 Oct 2001 · 08:30DurhamOrb· 2 min

    aprox. 8:40 EST, white flame shape heading fast for ground, turned 90 degree then looked like short white line

    Show on map

48 older reports are not listed here. Open the list view to read them all.

About this data

Where these reports come from

Reports are from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) public database: what members of the public said they saw, in their own words. Nobody has checked them, and most sightings have ordinary explanations.