On Nov 3, 2014, at 10:16 AM, Phil Pugliese (via tml list) <nobody@simplelists.com> wrote:

> The NTSB's preliminary
> investigation is pointing at the feathering
> system being activated early and that it was
> pilot error.
>
> http://www.voanews.com/content/ntsb-descent-system-of-crashed-virgin-spacecraft-activated-early/2505720.html
>
> -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Anyone have any info as to how that would cause an explosion?

It appears that the aircraft didn't explode, actually since the propellant tanks and rocket motors were found to be intact. The airframe broke apart, either as a result of the feathering system being activated or as a precipitating even for the activation.

Ars Technica has an article with some photos of the event <http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/11/ntsb-spaceshiptwo-broke-apart-when-feathering-activated-early/>

--
Bruce Johnson

"Wherever you go, there you are." B. Banzai, PhD