State Road 64 through the Wabash River bottoms near Princeton, Indiana, United States
The Princeton, Indiana Saucer
A family of three driving east toward Princeton during a thunderstorm reported a 30–40 ft disc-like object with a straight-sided cupola and dark cone beneath it. Lightning reportedly illuminated the structure before it descended slowly into woods near the road.
Why This Case Matters
A detailed multi-witness structured-craft report preserved by Francis Ridge/NICAP, but without official investigation, photographs or independent non-family corroboration.
Chronology
- Aug 1973 ~21:00 family drives east on SR64 in storm
- low lights initially resemble headlights
- lightning flash reportedly reveals disc/cupola
- object descends toward treeline over ~5 minutes
- Francis Ridge/NICAP later records case and commissions reconstruction drawing
The Witnesses
Evidence
The following evidence types are documented for this case:
Conventional explanations: Aircraft/vehicle lights distorted by heavy rain and lightning, storm-related visual effects, unusual perspective on a helicopter/aircraft, or embellished/mistaken family testimony.
What Remains Unresolved
- Exact event date
- original interview date/audio/forms
- witness identities and independent statements
- weather/lightning record
- other local witnesses
- exact site geometry.
Key Takeaways
- A worthwhile Tier-2 testimony case if Ridge's original forms/interviews can be preserved. Keep the reconstruction drawing clearly labelled and do not treat family agreement as independent instrumentation.
Sources
Primary and secondary sources for this case file: