Although it was unable to determine the exact source of the trace amounts of explosive residue found on the wreckage, the lack of any other corroborating evidence associated with a high-energy explosion led the NTSB to conclude that "the in-flight breakup of TWA flight 800 was not initiated by a bomb or missile strike.
The lack of any corroborating evidence associated with a high-energy explosion led the NTSB to conclude that «the in-flight breakup of TWA flight 800 was not initiated by a bomb or missile strike.»[[Файл:Slide0045 image013.PNG_thumbnail_left_The NTSB determined that the initial event in the breakup sequence was a failure of the Spanwise Beam #3 in the Center Wing Fuel Tank.