I'm impressed with how thorough the investigation is, according to this report.
he noticed an object distant on the horizon. Before he could mention the object to the first officer (FO), there was a significant impact...data was requested for the position of weather balloons, any other aircraft, and for any known reentry objects that were large enough to have signification portions survive that might have been in the area of the collision. WindBorne Systems Inc. reported that they lost contact with one of their global sounding balloons...There was a Notice to Airman....for the balloon launch operations at Spokane that expired at 1700 MDT the same day...a balloon envelope [with] a ballast system for altitude control...designed with the intent to minimize harm in the event of an impact during flight or landing. No large metal or high-stiffness structural elements are employed...[the aircraft's] windshield consists of a thermally tempered glass pane, a conductive heating film for deice capabilities, a urethane interlayer, a vinyl interlayer, a urethane interlayer, and a thermally tempered glass pane... certified to withstand the impact of a four-pound bird without penetration...
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