Richard F. Haines, PhD, is an American experimental psychologist born in 1937 in Seattle, Washington. He earned a BA from Pacific Lutheran College in 1960 and MA and PhD degrees in experimental psychology from Michigan State University in 1962 and 1964. He worked as a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center from 1967 until retirement in 1988, including as Chief of the Space Human Factors Office from 1986 to 1988.
Haines began collecting pilot reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in the 1970s while at NASA. After retirement he co-founded the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena in 1999 and served as its Chief Scientist, authoring technical reports on aviation safety implications of UAP encounters based on thousands of cases.
- Research Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center 1967–1988, Chief of Space Human Factors Office 1986–1988
- Co-founded NARCAP in 1999 and served as Chief Scientist
- Compiled database of more than 3,400 aviation-related UAP reports
- Authored NARCAP TR-01 in October 2000 on aviation safety and UAP incidents 1950–2000
- Co-authored NARCAP TR-03 in 2001 on electromagnetic effects in 57 pilot reports
- United StatesBorn Seattle, Washington
- NASAResearch Scientist and Chief of Space Human Factors Office, Ames Research Center 1967–1988
- NARCAPChief Scientist and co-founder 1999–present
- Michigan State UniversityPhD Experimental Psychology 1964
- San Jose State UniversityAssociate Professor of Psychology post-1988
Background
Richard F. Haines was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He attended the University of Washington and Pacific Lutheran College, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1960. He earned a master's degree in 1962 and a doctorate in experimental psychology in 1964 from Michigan State University. His early professional experience included work at Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle from 1956 to 1957.
Haines joined NASA in 1967 as a research scientist at Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. He conducted human factors research on projects including the Gemini program rendezvous and docking procedures, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Station Freedom. His work focused on visual perception, spacecraft window design, space suit development, and flight simulation.
In 1986 Haines was appointed Chief of the Space Human Factors Office at NASA Ames. In that role he directed research on the AX-5 hard EVA space suit, habitability design for Space Station Freedom, and related aerospace human factors projects. He retired from NASA government service in 1988.
After leaving NASA, Haines taught psychology as an associate professor at San Jose State University. He also worked part time as a scientist at the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science and provided limited consulting to NASA on laboratory projects through 1991. During his NASA years he began informally collecting reports from commercial pilots about unidentified aerial phenomena encountered during flights.
Haines's interest in pilot reports grew from conversations with simulator pilots at Ames. He authored books including Observing UFOs in 1980 and Advanced Aerial Devices Reported During the Korean War in 1990. He contributed to organizations such as the Center for UFO Studies and the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena while maintaining a focus on aviation cases.
In 1999 Haines co-founded the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena with Ted Roe. He served as Chief Scientist and prepared the organization's first technical report, Aviation Safety in America: A Previously Neglected Factor, released October 15, 2000. The report examined more than 100 documented encounters involving commercial, private, and military aircraft from 1950 to 2000.
Haines and Dominique Weinstein published NARCAP Technical Report 03 in 2001. It reviewed 1,300 pilot reports and identified 57 involving alleged electromagnetic effects on aircraft systems, with 27 meeting the highest acceptance criteria. He later authored reports on specific cases including the 2006 O'Hare International Airport incident.
Haines emphasized systematic data collection, witness perception analysis, and aviation safety factors without presuming origins of the phenomena. His work drew from FAA, NTSB, and NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System materials in addition to private files. NARCAP reports highlighted near-miss maneuvers, cockpit distractions, and instrument anomalies reported by pilots.
Where They Are Now
As of October 2026 Richard F. Haines remains associated with NARCAP as Chief Scientist in references to the organization's founding and early technical work. He is retired from NASA and continues to be cited for his database of pilot reports and aviation safety analyses.
Haines has contributed to recent discussions on UAP reporting standards through archived materials and organizational history. No public record indicates a change in his retired status or cessation of affiliation with NARCAP.
Last updated 25 October 2026