The Explosion of TWA Flight 800 is a full-day training course that uses a compelling case study to expose participants to advanced analytic methodologies, critical-thinking skills, and the benefits of collaboration.

The morning segment consists of an overview of the competing hypotheses faced by analysts investigating the mysterious explosion of TWA Flight 800 off the coast of Long Island on the evening of 17 July 1996—potentially an act of war—followed by a custom-designed sequence of narrated videos and a candid, interactive dialogue with the CIA’s principal investigator on the case.

The afternoon is spent examining the reconstructed aircraft wreckage at the National Transportation Safety Board’s training facility in Ashburn, Virginia.

During the afternoon session, participants will hear the NTSB perspective from the Director of the NTSB Training Academy, who uses the reconstructed fuselage to illustrate issues that challenged forensic investigators.

The course addresses teaching points applicable to participants from varied backgrounds who analyze complex issues.  Specifically, the course examines a controversial, “real-life” event in which analysts:

• Generated and analyzed competing hypotheses and applied critical thinking to select the most likely;
• Built and used models to better understand a complex event; and
• Successfully collaborated with colleagues from diverse organizations, backgrounds, and perspectives to solve a challenging problem with potentially important political repercussions.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, participants should have a model for how to tackle complex, collaborative analysis.  In addition, they should have an appreciation for the importance and value of applying sound critical thinking skills in their work.

Who Should Attend: NTSB limits this course to individuals in the Intelligence Community,
investigators, analysts, law enforcement personnel, and members of the academic community attending for research purposes
Length of Course: One (1) day*
Instructor(s): Randy Tauss

Submit your registration request form here.