From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Balloon envelope struck the basket of a higher balloon N36988 on climbout. Impact tore the envelope. Landed safely.
As the FAA filed it
BALLOON ENVELOPE STRUCK THE BASKET OF A HIGHER BALLOON N36988 ON CLIMBOUT. IMPACT TORE THE ENVELOPE. LANDED SAFELY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.