(EST PUB DATE) TECHNICAL ANALYSIS BRIEFING TWA FLIGHT 800

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01147342
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 38
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: February 22, 2018
• Case Number: F-2018-00225
• Publication Date: March 1, 1997

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"Most expensive aifHais-ast
investigatlono ."
"Flight. 800 already the
.exppnsive. air ,disaster investi
ArAerieati
ke0p. j,tfroim., becoming
unsolved
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� Federal Bureau of Investigation
� Central Intelligenc,e Agency
� National Security Agency
� Defense Intelligence Agency
--- Missile and Space Intelligence Center
� Federal Aviation Administration
� National Transportation Safety Boar
U.S. Navy
atrial
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' 4i13,77
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Many witnesses desc,ribe seeing
or "firework" ascend toward
just before explosion...
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� Power off just after initial explosion:
-- Cockpit Voice Recorder. (CVR)
-- Flight Data Recorder (FDR)
-- Aircraft Radar Transponder (altitude data
JFK, Airport Radar limitations:
-- Provides only latitude and ion
-- Samples only every 12 secon
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AnalytiCaI.Appma
� Determine precise latitude, longitude, altitude, speed and headin
TWA 800 when onboard voice and data recordings ended.
� Precisely locate each witness using GPS and/or map
� For as many witnesses as possible, determine precise azimut
"flare/firework" sightings and "fireball sightin
Determine what each witness heard
visual observations).
Determine how long sound ta
witness.
Combine results alon with in rare a a a
transponded a "skin tracking" e ermi
most likel saw an ea
softwar
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TWA 800-,..Conditims
Voice and Data-Recprdin
Time recordings ended:
Lat/Long =40� 38' 45
Altitude
Ground Speed
Air Speed = 330 knots
Heading � 70.93 degn
Other Fact. Average
altitude (1,062 ft/sec
ft/see)1,089 ft/sec.
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TWA 800: Lighting Conditions
When Recordings End
TWA000
Sun Rise/Set
05:35/20:19
Sun Az/E1
301.03 -2.83
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wiego �TWA.8()0
as11010941!
Direction,
of Flight
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Initial Explosion
� Saw "huge, mtense, oranoe, yellow and red fireball that
looked pear-shaped, drop from the sky into the ocean."'
� "Two large. ,booms reached the condo and shook the grou
ust]...after the fireball reached the surface of the
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Estimated Flight Profile
After First Explosion
15,000 ft.
10,000 ft.
Alt. = 13,820 ft.
5,000 ft.
Initial Explosion; pitch-
up; cockpit severed.
Second explosion;
descent.
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� House over which "zig-zagging, sparkling white light"
originated was at azimuth of 196.1� - 199.10 (GPS, compass).
� TWA 800 at the instant its onboard recordings ended was at
an azimuth of 196.23� (GPS, radar tracking).
� TWA 800 traveled 15,6� to witness's left in next 50.5 sec
(radar tracking), consistent with witness observation..
� Sound propagation analysis indicates that sound from aircraft's
first explosion would reach witness about 5 sec after aircraft hit
water, consistent with witness's visual observation.
� So "sparkling white light" probably came from the
aircraft AFTER ITS FIRST EXPLOSION.
� Sound propagation analysis indicates that a SECOND
EXPLOSION occurred about 15 sec after the first one,
consistent with witness's visual observation.
Horizon
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TWA Flight 800 Radar Trackin
(Azimuths to Witness "M.W.'fl
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Witness "M.W." Perspective: At What Climb Angle
After Recordings End Would TWA 800 Mimic
"400 Ascending Firework For 15 Seconds"?
Altitude � �
when recordings end
13,820 ft. (radar and altimeter)
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Witness "M.W." Perspective: At What Climb Angle
After Recordings End Would TWA 800 Mimic
"400 Ascending Firework For 15 Second"?
(All distances in feet.)
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VELV WO 90/Z0/940Z JOI pancu� � VA
rr.
1 sec
Speedaat approaching = Sacft =361 ft/sec
Speed 089 ft/SeCaverve
sound approaching = Ss, ound = 1
Answer: Within about 15 seam
1 inlebetween sotmds on acft Ssouild (Ssound Sacft)] X
(1,089 ft/sec) [(1 089 ftise,c
TiMebetween sounds heard on ground
� 15.0 sec
So sounds heard by witness "M W.' 0 seconds apart were produced on
5 seconds a art.
rfjI WO 90/Z0/21.0Z raseala JOj panoi� � ,j
TWA Flight 800 Witnessed By
"D.B." On US Air Flight 217
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0 TWA 800 Recordings En
O FLT 217 When TWA 800
0 Radar Track spond
Radar Track (w/o transpo
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Speed = 380 knots
Alt = 13,820 ft.
Heading = 70.93�
Lat = 40.5953� N
Long = 72.7183� W
0 TWA 800 Recordings End
O FLT 217 When TWA 800 R.E.
o Radar Track (w/transponder)
Radar Track (w/o transponder)
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Initial
Explosion
(To = 0831:07.496 PM)
0 To + 15 sec
Onboard flight data
and voice recordings
end at T� = 0; cockpit
separates within 4 sec
(last transponded radar
signal received at
0831:12.133 PM);
aircraft pitches up
dramatically.
�Two or 3 secondary
� explosions occur over a
2-sec period beginning
at about T0+ 15 sec
(witness and sound
propagation analysis
While at altitude of about one mile, aircraft
hooks to left and downward; left wing
separates from fuselage at To + 42 sec
(witness and sound propagation analysis
"tire trail" erupts. (Infrared "hit" at To
43.5 sec, detects heat of The trail."
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Estimated Flight Profile
After First Explosion
15,000 ft.
10,000 ft.
Alt. = 13,820 ft.
5,000 ft.
Sea Level
Alt. = 16,800 ft. (approx.)
Initial Explosion; pitch-
up; cockpit severed.
Second explosion;
descent.
Left wing separates;
fire trail erupts.
6,000 ft. (approx.
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Method of Grouping
TWA 800 Eyewitnesses
Grou
1. Observes only end event
2. Observations begin close to but
after initial explosion
3. Observations consistent with
Group 1 or 2, but description
includes "object hitting aircraft"
4. Observations inconclusive
Groups 1 & 2 limit observations
to after initial explosion
Initial Explosion
Second Explosion
...6,11Siffai45.1eAVAW
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Eyewitnesses assigned to Group 1,
only observe events at the end of
TWA 800's flight, and, therefore,
could not have seen missile cause
the initial explosion.
Initial Explosion
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-- Debris show the left wing separated from the
aircraft and was intact
- W.P. [21] "It (the light) then grew more
intense in brightness and broke into two,
red balls of fire".
- A.L. [26] "...entire right wing separates from
fuselage, and peeled back, alongside the
fuselage...". The entire wing was intact and
did not observe engines.
- D.G. [29] "..the fireball broke into two pieces;
one pencil-shaped or telephone shaped, and
one shaped like a circle".
- A.C. [47] "...witnessed a small explosion,
followed by two (2) 'tremendous'
explosions, then two large objects falling
toward horizon".
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Initial
Explosion
(To = 0831:07.496 PM)
Onboard flight data
alld voice recordings
end at T0 =0; cockpit
separates within 4 sec
(last transponded radar
signal received at
0831:12.133 PM)'
aircraft pitches up
dramatically.
T0+ 15 sec
Two or 3 secondary:
explosions occur Qyq.
p,00;,t.:0,0qt:ttpg
gt:ghout-T,;�.1.5-,,S0c:'
sound
propagationranlySis
While at altitude of about
hooks to left ncj downwr
separates fron fuselage at
witness and sound popa
ire trail erupts
43,5 sec detects c tram
ation arm
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Group 1: Eyewitnesses
Observe Only Vertical Motion
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WITNESS
AZIMUTH TO TWA 800 AZIMUTH TO TWA 800 AZIMUTH CITED B
WHEN RECORDINGS END "WING SEPARAtION: 'WITNESS-
� J. & T.C. 87.31�
.J3.[] 98.58�
AC [47] 119.48�
B.K. &1)F [73] 149.82�
A. & J.C. [112/113] 161.69�
& S S. [114/115] 180.73�
J.D. [52] 189.15�
R. & L.C. [50] 219.89�
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Group 2: 18 Eyewitnesses'
Observations Begin Near Initial Event
� See only single object...hence did
not see missile and aircraft
See object ascend and descen
most see end fireball
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� Most eyewitnesses describe observations
"one continuous motion."
� Airborne witness "V S.
integrol,;.�iit.ran,qtion.ink from ascent to
� descent in a fluid�.nlotion.�
..This is inconsistent with
because aircraft awcToft, and missile most
ti'aveling at different speeds
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Eyewitnesses do not describe an object and aircraft sh-nultaneo
Seven (7) eyewitnesses are in Group 1
(End Event Only) and could
not have seen missile
strike aircraft
One (1) eyewitness is in Grou
� Witness probably ip.t6
eed to re-interview witne
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Observations
� Observed red object ascending for
30 sec from East to West
� As object reached zenith, it arced over, traveled
� horizontally for 10 sec, followed by a small
� explosion and 2 tremendous explosions
� Finally, saw two objects fall toward horizon
Conclusions
4110 Likely saw most of event due to extended o
� Observed end event with explosion and two falli
� Observations consistent with aircraft hy
� .
except for Last to West motto
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