Cases

Classification Codes

These classifications were initially proposed by J. Allen Hynek of CUFOS and expanded upon by Jacques Vallée and others. No judgement is offered on the veracity of exemplary cases, they are linked for illustrative purposes.

Code	Description	Exemplary Case
FLAP	UFO Flap Report grouping together multiple UFO sightings that may indicate a sightings wave or flap. A wave or flap is a short period of time (a month to a few years) during which a relatively high number of sightings reports are filed as compared to non-flap time periods.	The Gulf Breeze UFO Incident
RADC	Radar Case A UFO sighting supported by radar evidence.	1952 Washington, D.C. Invasion
AP	Airplane Pilot or Passenger Report Pilots have historically reported these to NARCAP, and more recently Americans for Safe Aerospace. When the US Government got back into UFO debunking after the Nimitz, Gimbal, and GOFAST videos surfaced, the AARO also became a possibility. In 2010, the FAA literally suggested BAASS or NUFORC.	America West Flight 564 (1995)
DE-1	Distant Encounters of the First Kind Formerly “NL” – Nocturnal Lights, Cemetery Lights, Spook Lights, etc. A UFO has been observed which travels in a discontinuous trajectory (i.e. vertical drops, maneuvers or loops) that could indicate purposeful maneuvering.	Rendlesham Forest Incident
DE-2	Distant Encounters of the Second Kind Distant nocturnal lights that take formations or otherwise arrange into recognizable shapes.	The Lubbock Lights
DE-3	Distant Encounters of the Third Kind Formerly “DD” – Daytime Disc sightings. Any sighting of a structured craft seen from a distance of 500 feet or more.	Mantell UFO Incident (KY)
DE-4	Distant Encounters of the Fourth Kind A distant light or craft that leaves some measurable evidence in the environment of the site after it departs.	The Kecksburg Incident
CE-1	Close Encounters of the First Kind Any report of a large structure or craft seen at a close distance, approximately 500 feet or less. A visual sighting.	Portage County, OH UFO Chase
CE-2	Close Encounters of the Second Kind A large structure or craft seen at a close distance that leaves some measurable evidence in the environment of the site after it departs.	Dechmont Woods Incident
CE-3	Close Encounters of the Third Kind Reports which include both a structured craft seen at a near distance and creatures of some kind associated with the craft.	The Lonnie Zamora Incident
CE-4	Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind Being-initiated contact. Reports in which there is evidence of some form of mental and/or physical transport of a human being from one location to another. There is seldom any recollection of the travel or surrounding details. This category includes abduction and sexual contact cases.	The Liberty, KY Alien Abduction
CE-5	Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind Human-initiated contact. A report of deliberate human behavior that was followed by an obvious response from an unidentified object and/or associated creature. The response of the craft or being included effects suggesting its response was not merely coincidental. This category includes telepathic communication between humans and occupants.	Kelly, KY Green Men
CE-6	Close Encounters of the Sixth Kind Report in which there is evidence of bodily harm or death as a result of witnessing or interacting with a UFO or its occupants.	Delphos, KS 1971
GE-1	Ghost Encounters of the First Kind A ghost or spirit is sighted or heard.	Abraham Lincoln
GE-2	Ghost Encounters of the Second Kind Some type of evidence of the ghost is found (e.g. ectoplasm), objects are materialized, or the ghost otherwise interacts with the environment (e.g. poltergeist activity).	Pete the Poltergeist
GE-3	Ghost Encounters of the Third Kind Multiple ghosts are encountered.	Gettysburg
GE-4	Ghost Encounters of the Fourth Kind Physical or sexual contact with a ghost (e.g. incubus/succubus).
GE-5	Ghost Encounters of the Fifth Kind Deliberate human behavior followed by an obvious response by the ghost(s).
GE-6	Ghost Encounters of the Sixth Kind Bodily harm or death as a result of interaction with a ghost.	The Bell Witch
CRE-1	Creature Encounters of the First Kind A cryptid (bigfoot, nessie, chupacabra, mothman, nightcrawler, skinwalker, lizard people, or any other “living” monster) or mythical/legendary entity (e.g. elves, fairies, leprechauns) heard or sighted.	The Fouke Monster
CRE-2	Creature Encounters of the Second Kind Evidence of the creature is found.
CRE-3	Creature Encounters of the Third Kind The creature(s) return to a certain area, or are spotted in a group or lair.	Mothman’s TNT Area
CRE-4	Creature Encounters of the Fourth Kind Physical or sexual contact with or an abduction by the creature(s).
CRE-5	Creature Encounters of the Fifth Kind Deliberate human behavior followed by an obvious response by the creature(s).
CRE-6	Creature Encounters of the Sixth Kind Bodily harm or death as a result of interaction with a creature.
AB-1	Anomalous Behavior of the First Kind Anomalies that have no lasting physical effects. i.e. amorphous lights, unexplained explosions.
AB-2	Anomalous Behavior of the Second Kind Anomalies that have lasting physical effects. i.e. crop circles (areas of flattened grass, corn, soy, etc.).
AB-3	Anomalous Behavior of the Third Kind Near-death experiences (NDEs), out-of-body experiences (OBEs), religious miracles, and similar visions.
AB-4	Anomalous Behavior of the Fourth Kind Anomalous reports of injuries and deaths. i.e. SHC (spontaneous human combustion), unexplained wounds, as well as permanent healing that results from a paranormal experience.
AM-1	Animal Mutilations of the First Kind An animal was found dead under unusual circumstances but wasn’t mutilated.
AM-2	Animal Mutilations of the Second Kind An animal was killed, mutilated and left in the location where it normally lived.
AM-3	Animal Mutilations of the Third Kind An animal was killed, mutilated and found in an unusual location.
AM-4	Animal Mutilations of the Fourth Kind Evidence that an animal was killed and/or mutilated but few or no remains found.

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