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UFO-2004-048 · UFOs & UAPs

USS Nimitz 'Tic Tac' encounter

This page records what was reported. A report, official record or unresolved status is not proof of an extraordinary explanation.

The case record

What was reported?

Navy pilots including David Fravor reported a white oblong object during exercises; FLIR1 video was later associated with the incident.

Reported date
14 Nov 2004
Witnesses
US Navy pilots / radar operators · Multiple
Investigation
US Navy / DoD / AARO historical review

Evidence in the record

Infrared videoradar reportspilot testimony

Infrared video; radar reports; pilot testimony

Competing explanations

Official and research context

Unresolved publicly

Conventional explanations

Sensor interpretation and distant-object hypotheses proposed

Arguments that remain contested

Precise performance claims depend heavily on unavailable sensor data

Locations & timeline

Coordinates are representative. Area and route labels do not imply exact paths or object positions.

  1. Primary reference location

    USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group training area

    Southwest of San Diego / west of Baja California

    Reported event location · Approximate area radius: 100 km

    31.300°, -118.500° · route · Medium
  2. Linked location

    USS Princeton radar context

    Eastern Pacific southwest of San Diego

    Carrier group / radar site · Approximate area radius: 100 km

    31.500°, -118.300° · area · Low

Record notes

Show a broad offshore operating area and mark coordinate as approximate.

Imported starting record; individual claims and source links await editorial verification.

Original dataset status: Unresolved

The conversation around the evidence

What do you make of the record?

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Moderation & appeals · Corrections and source updates