The Trans-en-Provence Case

On January 8, 1981, Renato Nicolai, a farmer in Trans-en-Provence, France, witnessed a disc-shaped craft land briefly in his garden before taking off. The case was investigated by GEPAN (now GEIPAN), the French government’s official UFO study agency, which found physical trace evidence that could not be conventionally explained.

The Witness

Renato Nicolai:

• 55-year-old farmer
• Working in his garden
• Heard strange sound
• Looked up to see object
• Watched entire event

The Sighting

At approximately 5:00 PM:

• Heard whistling sound
• Saw disc-shaped craft
• Descended to garden
• Landed briefly
• Rose and departed rapidly

The Object

Nicolai described:

• Lead-colored disc
• About 2.5 meters diameter
• Two circular protrusions underneath
• Landed for seconds
• Rose with whistling sound

The Landing Site

After departure:

• Circular mark visible
• Ring-shaped impression
• Vegetation affected
• Ground marks clear
• Nicolai reported to police

GEPAN Investigation

Official French agency:

• Investigated within 48 hours
• Collected soil samples
• Interviewed witness
• Documented site
• Conducted analysis

Laboratory Findings

Analysis showed:

• Vegetation biochemically affected
• Chlorophyll content reduced
• Ground compacted
• Heat exposure evidence
• No conventional explanation

The Report

GEPAN concluded:

• Something landed
• Left measurable traces
• Affected vegetation
• Could not identify source
• Genuine anomaly

Witness Credibility

Nicolai was considered:

• Simple, honest farmer
• No interest in UFOs
• No profit motive
• Reluctant witness
• Consistent account

Scientific Importance

The case is notable for:

• Official government investigation
• Laboratory analysis
• Physical evidence documented
• Scientific methodology used
• Remains unexplained

International Attention

The Trans-en-Provence case:

• Made international news
• Example of rigorous investigation
• Cited by researchers worldwide
• Model for trace cases
• Ongoing reference

Significance

The Trans-en-Provence case is significant for:

• Official government investigation
• Physical trace evidence
• Scientific analysis
• Credible witness
• Model methodology

Legacy

The Trans-en-Provence case represents one of the best-documented physical trace cases in UFO history. The involvement of the official French government agency and the scientific analysis of evidence set a standard for UFO investigation.