[DB]

I believe (could be wrong) that the cassette recorder was in the cargo hold. Which is likely away from the center fuel tank.

I agree that fuel causing the fire streak seems unlikely. Just thinking of the possibilities...

From the other posters information on stingers, it looks like the maximum altitude is around 12,500 feet. Which is close… I don't clearly remember the altitude of flight 800 was but seems like it was around 14,000 feet.

[coloradan]

FL 800 was at 13,800 when it started having troubles.

My understanding is that the useful ceiling of the stinger was assuming an agile, fighter-type target. For a lumbering jetliner, it would be quite higher. A rifle bullet will go up 10,000 feet starting from supersonic at the ground; a stinger that is still supersonic at 10,000 feet can surely coast beyond 3,800 feet higher than this. (That said, I don't insist it was a stinger, only that a one is not affirmatively ruled out.)