light flashed in 3 durations moving short distance over head then dramatically accelerated and continue to flash as it traveled.

March 16, 2016.   At around 9:40 pm, I had stepped out to smoke on the back patio as is typical, in my peripheral vision I saw a flash of white light at around 20 degrees from overhead in a north – west direction.  I continue to watch that area knowing from past experience some satellites flash from the sun, and again it flashed as expected a little ways away from the original flash, then flashed a third time and dramatically had moved much farther away to my surprise… this thing had accelerated much faster then any fast satellite I had ever seen and in fact continue to flash periodical like skipping light on water sort of speak. It moved so fast I had to open the gate and  run around to the front of the house to continue watching, as I refocused my eyes this skipping white flashing light was passing an airline on its left side about 40-50 miles away.
The direction of travel was just south of true west  (~250-260 azimuth ).  There was no fire trail behind as it flashed.  I have seen skipping meteors before with fire trails.  
I must say, it’s the seeming acceleration that is puzzling