UFO seen by civilian pilot over Flathead Lake

Summary

A civilian pilot observed a white object the size of a pinhead at 23,000 feet above Flathead Lake, Montana. The object was traveling east at a speed five times faster than a jet aircraft. The sighting lasted between five and seven seconds, limiting the observer's ability to identify the object. Although the pilot had seen many meteors, he did not believe this was one. However, investigators concluded it was likely an astronomical phenomenon due to the brevity of the sighting and the object's description.

The lack of visual details and the impossibility of further investigation led to no follow-up being authorized. Despite the observer not considering it a meteor, the description and short duration of the sighting led investigators to classify it as "possibly astronomical". No additional reports were found in the files, and the case was closed without further analysis.