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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.

...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.

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.

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

Well, the families of the Flight 93 victims apparently wanted to hear it, unless they were informed beforehand that the tape was edited and have just kept their mouths shut about it.