Three Minute Discrepancy in Flight 93 Tape

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | Sept. 16, 2002 | William Bunch

[Gunrunner2]

There is another, more likely reason the tape MAY be missing the few moments of the flight.

As a trained and experienced aircraft mishap investigator I have listened to many tapes and let me tell you, sometimes the last few moments before a crash are heart-rendering and terrible to listen to as the aircrew fight to stay alive.

In this case, I suspect IF there is anything "missing" it would be to save the familes the pain of listening to a life and death struggle, with the confusion and fear associated with knowing they are about to die as they fight for control of the aircraft and see the ground coming at them--it would serve no purpose to play this part of the tape for the familes. Especially when, PERHAPS, a few people on that plane "lost it."

Not something you want to have as your last memory of your loved one.

[sharktrager]

I have a theory. The clock on the recorder wasn't calibrated with the seismologists clock.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

...it would serve no purpose to play this part of the tape for the familes. Especially when, PERHAPS, a few people on that plane "lost it."

A more likely explanation is that the plane was shot down by a US fighter. Funny you didn't mention that as one of the possibilities.

[altayann]

I wouldn't say that that's the likeliest reason for a missing three minutes on the tape.

The likeliest reason that the tape ended three minutes before the plane hit the ground is that the plane itself came to a end three minutes before hitting the ground.

I don't like to invoke conspiracy theories, but something just isn't right here.

First of all, the pattern of debris is not consistent with the plane hitting the ground in one piece. Parts of the plane were recovered miles from the point of impact, which would have been almost impossible if the plane came down in one piece.

Secondly, the missing three minutes of the voice recorder. If the passengers did in fact make it into the cockpit, there should have been at least some sign of it on the tape. It's hard to believe that the passengers and hijackers fought for control of the plane in relative silence.

And finally, if there's more to the tape than has been indicated, where's the transcript? Even if the last three minutes is very emotional, that's not a good enough reason to leave it out of an official transcript. There some be at least some indication as to what happened in the final few minutes of the flight, even if it is heavily edited for the sakes of the victim's families.

[Snowy]

A more likely explanation is that the plane was shot down by a US fighter. Funny you didn't mention that as one of the possibilities.

This makes sense, but, I'm surprised that we have not heard from any witnesses. I keep thinking that someone on the ground must have seen something.

[jraven]

Certainly sounds as if there's a chance it was shot down.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The NTSB/FBI was able to suppress mainstream media coverage of the hundreds eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen a missile strike TWA Flight 800. There would be far fewer eyewitnesses to ignore in the farm country of Pennsylvania.

[ChadGore]

At this very moment, I have a cell phone that reads: 08:42 and a PC that reads: 08:36

[TheWoodsarelovely]

Glad I am not the only one who thinks this! I beleive it was shot down. Gov't. is hiding this. Why? If that is the case, they are still heroes (passengers aboard).If this is the case, let people know. Every terrorist in the world would realise our resolve as to that they will never win, no matter what the costs. My heart goes out to the man/men that carried out that order. Imagine the pain they are living with....

[Sloth]

And it took THREE MINUTES to fall???

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Last time I broached the subject that I thought Flight 93 was shot down I was attacked viciously. The fact that it was shot down does not take anything away from the courage of the passengers who took a stand. If I were President and three hijacked passenger jets had just attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and I knew a fourth hijacked plane was out there, I would order it to be shot down. It would be the only rational thing to do.

The main thing you have to understand about the federal government is that, like all psychotics, it would rather tell a lie than the truth, even when the truth would work better than the lie.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

And it took THREE MINUTES to fall???

Terminal velocity through the atmosphere is approximately 150 mph, depending on the aerodynamic properties of the falling body. Based on this estimate, it would take an object 3 minutes to fall from 40,000 feet.

That is in the ballpark.

[ErnBatavia]

[dpa5923]

At this very moment, I have a cell phone that reads: 08:42 and a PC that reads: 08:36

9 posted on 9/16/02 9:37 AM Eastern by ChadGore

.

.

And look what time you posted! :)

[Ferris]

It is well known that flight 93 was trailed by fighter jets that had asked for, and received permission to fire on the jet and take it down... They recieved permission from "the man"...

What would be the most likely scenario??? Do you think those fighter pilot(s) did nothing??

[Gunrunner2]

There was another FR thread that spoke to the theories about the mishap. I, along with many others, went into detail on the dynamics of aircraft mishaps and such.

I suppose some more expert in FR stuff can do a search and find it. Save you a lot of conjecture.

The clocks not being aligned is another excellent reason. On-board clocks are NOT linked to the US Naval Observatory Master Clock.

[Tired of Taxes]

How sad, if it's true the plane was shot down. What if the men on board were able to gain control of it, only to be shot down by our own military... Those words ("Pull up!") sound as if they did gain control of it.

[irish guard]

Wrong ballpark. most commercial planes, if any ever fly at 40,000 feet. more likely they were at 30,000- 33,000 feet. how long would it take then?

[Sloth]

Terminal velocity through the atmosphere is approximately 150 mph, depending on the aerodynamic properties of the falling body.

VERY dependent. We are talking about an object that routinely travels *500 mph* horizontally under, say, 80,000 - 90,000 lbs of thrust, but which weighs 200,000 lbs or so.