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December 1, 1998: TWA Flight 800 Investigation - Capt. William S. Donaldson
Published 1 year, 11 months ago
Description
Art Bell welcomes retired Navy Commander William S. Donaldson, a career naval aviator and aviation safety expert, for a detailed investigation into the TWA Flight 800 disaster of July 1996. Donaldson presents his case that the official explanation of a spontaneous center fuel tank explosion is scientifically impossible, citing the fuel type Jet A1 and its resistance to ignition under normal flight conditions.
Two eyewitnesses join the program. Major Fred Myers, a decorated combat helicopter pilot flying a Black Hawk at 200 feet that evening, describes seeing a streak of light followed by what he identifies as a high-explosive ordnance detonation before the fuel fireball. Richard Goss, watching from the West Hampton Yacht Squadron, recounts a bright object rising from near the surface, leveling off, and making a sharp left turn before the explosion.
Donaldson lays out debris field analysis showing wreckage patterns inconsistent with a center tank failure, including a six-inch through-hole penetrating the fuselage and nose section fragments scattered thousands of feet from the flight path. He concludes the physical evidence points to a missile engagement, possibly involving an Iranian AIM-54A Phoenix missile.
Two eyewitnesses join the program. Major Fred Myers, a decorated combat helicopter pilot flying a Black Hawk at 200 feet that evening, describes seeing a streak of light followed by what he identifies as a high-explosive ordnance detonation before the fuel fireball. Richard Goss, watching from the West Hampton Yacht Squadron, recounts a bright object rising from near the surface, leveling off, and making a sharp left turn before the explosion.
Donaldson lays out debris field analysis showing wreckage patterns inconsistent with a center tank failure, including a six-inch through-hole penetrating the fuselage and nose section fragments scattered thousands of feet from the flight path. He concludes the physical evidence points to a missile engagement, possibly involving an Iranian AIM-54A Phoenix missile.