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.
Narrative: on December 7, 1996, at approximately 1300 p.m. N5459R, a Cessna 172F departed Fairbanks International Airport enroute to nulato. After take off pilot noticed oil on windshield. Returned to land at Fairbanks International with no damage. Found oil cap not secured.
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE: ON DECEMBER 7, 1996, AT APPROXIMATELY 1300 P.M. N5459R, A CESSNA 172F DEPARTED FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENROUTE TO NULATO. AFTER TAKE OFF PILOT NOTICED OIL ON WINDSHIELD. RETURNED TO LAND AT FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL WITH NO DAMAGE. FOUND OIL CAP NOT SECURED.