BERNARD SHAW, CNN ANCHOR: We know a little more now about the final terrifying moments of Alaska Airlines flight 261. CNN's Carl Rochelle is covering the investigation. He's here with the very latest -- Carl.</s>CARL ROCHELLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bernie, Alaska Airlines flight 261 may have broken up in flight before it plunged into the waters off the California coast. National Transportation Safety Board says radar data shows what could be pieces coming off the plane at the same time it started its fatal dive.</s>JIM HALL, NTSB CHAIRMAN: These primary radar hits might be indicative -- and I emphasize, might be indicative -- of something coming off flight 261 at this point. I have instructed assets of the United States Navy to search and area of the ocean where we believe that something that would have departed the aircraft at that point could have landed, which is about four miles from the main wreckage site.</s>ROCHELLE: Hall says the 13 minutes before the crash data, the flight data recorder shows the horizontal stabilizer trim with full nose down when the autopilot was disconnected. The plane began descending 7,000 feet per minute. Even though the stabilizer trim remained full nose down, the crew did recover, then they tested the flaps and slats, apparently in preparation for an emergency landing, but when they deployed them again, the plane plunged nose down, turning and rolling upside down and to the left. It took only about a minute from it's 18,000-foot altitude before it hit the water, killing all 88 on board. NTSB officials caution they won't know for sure whether parts broke off the plane in flight until they have recovered more of the wreckage. Officials believe parts breaking off in flight could explain why the crew could no longer control the plane's descent -- Bernie.</s>SHAW: Thank you, Carl Rochelle, with the latest.
Alaska Airlines Crash: Plane May Have Broken Up Before It Plunged Into Waters