Trans-en-Provence Landing Trace

On the afternoon of January 8, 1981, Renato Nicolaï was working on his property in Trans-en-Provence when he heard a strange whistling sound. He observed a metallic, saucer-shaped object approximately 2.5 meters in diameter land about 50 meters away on a lower terrace. The object was grayish with a thick rim and prominent circular features underneath resembling landing pads. It remained on the ground for 30–40 seconds before lifting off vertically and departing rapidly without noise or exhaust. Nicolaï reported it to the gendarmerie the next day. Officers documented a circular ground trace about 2 meters in diameter with scrape marks and took soil and wild alfalfa samples. GEPAN (later GEIPAN) conducted a thorough investigation involving multiple laboratories. Analyses revealed significant soil compaction consistent with heavy pressure, heating effects, and biochemical changes in the plants (reduced chlorophyll, altered mineral content) that could not be fully explained by known natural or human causes. The case remains one of the most documented physical trace events.