As I previously mentioned, the CIA video had nothing to do with the NTSB, or the NTSB report. It was part of the FBI's criminal investigation of the incident. The FBI believed TWA 800 was the result of an international terrorist incident. That is how the CIA became involved. But as the investigation continued, it became clear that there was no criminal actions involved in what happened to TWA 800.
"The only problem with this is they forgot to talk to the witness most likely to be in a position to know whether TWA800 climbed at all after the explosion."
That is completely untrue. The NTSB was especially interested in the Eastwind Pilot and not only interviewed him specifically, but included a specific analysis of his statements in their report. But...you wouldn't know that since you've proven time and again that you have no idea what is actually in the NTSB report. Here's a link to the report. Go to page 243 titled "The Pilot of Eastwind Airlines Flight 507". NTSB Report
"You say you are a pilot so you know that one of the things a pilot is taught early on is how to judge if traffic is above, below, or at nearly the same altitude as he is."
I am a pilot, and one of the first things I learned was you can never put all your trust in what your eyes are telling you. Especially during twilight hours and when all you can see of another aircraft is its lights. But does it interest you in the slightest that the Eastwind Pilot, the person with perhaps the clearest view of the whole event, very clearly states that he saw no signs or indications of anything hitting TWA 800 before it exploded?
"The NTSB failed to talk to Eastwind Airlines pilot Dave McClaine."
As I've already stated, you are wrong again. Just read the NTSB report. You will realize that your fascination with the CIA video is irrelevant to the NTSB investigation. The NTSB does not support what was in the CIA video and did not include it in any part of its investigation.
Well, I had a look at the page you suggested. It does appear that McClaine spoke to the NTSB in March 1999, which was more than a year after I last talked with him and almost three years after the accident. (As I previously stated, he told me that the only time he was questioned by anyone in an official capacity investigating the accident was a day or two after it occurred.)
Now what about this page? They fail to mention the guy's name! Apparently, the only thing they learned from him in their interview was that he paused for ten seconds before reporting the explosion. And they provide no transcript. That must have been a hell of an investigation. BTW, I believe the statements he made on the night of the accident were to his company. You cannot tell this from the Great Report. But you can tell he waited ten seconds to report the explosion. That really helps to focus on what happened. You make it seem in what you said that they analyzed the statements he made in this NTSB interview, but really the only statements the mentioned (not analyzed) were selected statements he made shortly after the accident.
As for not seeing a missile, McClaine agreed with me that the reason he might not have seen a missile was that if it was there, it would have been launched from below him. You know that forward and down is not a point of great visibility in most airplanes. The missile apparently rose quickly so it would have been visible to him for at most a fraction of a second, during which time he says his attention was focused upon the light "on the plane." He didn't see a missile, it's true; but he didn't deny the possibility.
I notice you avoided all of my questions concerning McClain's ability and position to judge whether any burning part of TWA800 climbed after the plane was stricken. You seem as disinterested in this as the NTSB. (Hmmm.)
ML/NJ