Then there is the video the two young men took as it passed over Nevada. It clearly shows something comming off. They even comment on it on the tape. What I have no idea is, is that he same pice that the fellow in California saw and photographed, or another piece. I'm guessing that it was a different piece. The stuff falling off early would have been primarily tiles, I think, and they're so light that they'd fall behind quickly.
California to Nevada is probably about a minute's flight....