The Disappearance of D.B. Cooper

[toexist]

#mystery

 

[Brent S]

Didn’t they find some thing on the ground a few years back that indicated he didn’t survive? There’s so many rumors about this story that it’s hard to tell what’s real.

 

[Brent S]

The bills found buried on a sandbar in 1980 had matching serial numbers from the theft. That seemed to be the only definitive evidence to date. That still left as many questions as answers.

 

[toexist]

The bills found buried on a sandbar in 1980 had matching serial numbers from the theft. That seemed to be the only definitive evidence to date. That still left as many questions as answers.

I think the only way he could have survived that jump is if he had his own parachute.

 

[Brent S]

I think the only way he could have survived that jump is if he had his own parachute.

No doubt, a non steerable military parachute wasn’t the best option to use in the dark at 200mph. I’m not a big fan of thieves here, but I kind of hope they guy survived and got away with it. Which all the legends and mystery he became some sort of folk icon.

 

[Brent S]

I just saw you posted this at 2:32am. Have you ever heard of sleep aids or alcohol?

 

[toexist]

I just saw you posted this at 2:32am. Have you ever heard of sleep aids or alcohol?

1:32 am. I was out late with fam from out of town.

 

[toexist]

No doubt, a non steerable military parachute wasn’t the best option to use in the dark at 200mph. I’m not a big fan of thieves here, but I kind of hope they guy survived and got away with it. Which all the legends and mystery he became some sort of folk icon.

I just wish we could find out if he survived and why/how he pulled it off. Something like this could never happen today.

 

[Maverick]

I don't think he survived the jump at all, not under the condition he jumped, the terrain isn't far from me and it wouldn't be pleasant at all, him jumping at night from the clouds in heavy rain and winds without an altemeter in the mountain range (at night) is pure suicidal even with an altemeter not to mention he used a civilian chute, these type of chute are not made for those type of conditions, he refused to use a Military chute which were better suited. Some of the money was found along the Columbia river banks by a kid.

 

[toexist]

I don't think he survived the jump at all, not under the condition he jumped, the terrain isn't far from me and it wouldn't be pleasant at all, him jumping at night from the clouds in heavy rain and winds without an altemeter in the mountain range (at night) is pure suicidal even with an altemeter not to mention he used a civilian chute, these type of chute are not made for those type of conditions, he refused to use a Military chute which were better suited. Some of the money was found along the Columbia river banks by a kid.

I was thinking same thing. I suspected he secretly brought his own chute. Though I wonder if he didn't survive the fall why his body was never recovered.

 

[Maverick]

I was thinking same thing. I suspected he secretly brought his own chute. Though I wonder if he didn't survive the fall why his body was never recovered.

He requested a chute from Seattle pd, the police got the chute from a local parachuting school, he refused the chute from McCord air base. Many people have disappeared in them parts, some found some not, some parts of his clothing and shredded parachute cords have been found, his torn tie was found, he wasn’t even dressed for the weather conditions this time of year!

Either way he is a folk hero to some in these parts but than again many folks love legends and he’s one of many.

 

[toexist]

He requested a chute from Seattle pd, the police got the chute from a local parachuting school, he refused the chute from McCord air base. Many people have disappeared in them parts, some found some not, some parts of his clothing and shredded parachute cords have been found, his torn tie was found, he wasn’t even dressed for the weather conditions this time of year!

Either way he is a folk hero to some in these parts but than again many folks love legends and he’s one of many.

What if he survived and was a member of this forum. Lol!

 

[Maverick]

Now that would be funny, I would want to know how he survived the impossible, I want his book!!! Many have survived the impossible and it makes for good reading and learning

 

[toexist]

Now that would be funny, I would want to know how he survived the impossible, I want his book!!! Many have survived the impossible and it makes for good reading and learning

Have you read Lone Survivor? Man this guy went through hell and back.

 

[Maverick]

No, haven’t seen it

 

[toexist]

No, haven’t seen it

A book was written and a movie made. Highly recommended.

 

[DrPrepper1]

I did read his book and Chris Kyle's as well. It is amazing what these guys train for. I have told myself several times, "This is not hell week". I say that after reading Chris Kyle's book about training with the Seal's during "Hell week." I feel like I should be able to do anything if it isn't 'Hell week."

 

[Gazrok]

I think it's pretty clear he survived. The found bills didn't just fall that way, they were placed.

I'd have to review my hobby notes on the case, but I remember one of the prime suspects looked REALLY good on paper, as he was knowledgeable about those planes, an experienced jumper, and skilled survivalist.

 

[toexist]

I think it's pretty clear he survived. The found bills didn't just fall that way, they were placed.

I'd have to review my hobby notes on the case, but I remember one of the prime suspects looked REALLY good on paper, as he was knowledgeable about those planes, an experienced jumper, and skilled survivalist.

If u watch video they go over top suspects. If this guy survived he goes down in history as the legend of legends.

 

[Maverick]

I think it's pretty clear he survived. The found bills didn't just fall that way, they were placed.

I'd have to review my hobby notes on the case, but I remember one of the prime suspects looked REALLY good on paper, as he was knowledgeable about those planes, an experienced jumper, and skilled survivalist.

Columbia river don't work that way here, one doesn't place an item on the beach and expect it to remain their, we have had many floods in the area the money was found since the hijacking. where he roughly landed at to where the money was found 9yrs later is 1.5hrs away by car, he landed if he landed softly he would have landed up around lake merwin (picture below) in frigid November at night in a storm without an altemeter (no moon) thus the ground will approach much faster than one can realize, in other words, you can't see the mountains, cliffs, big body of water plus you would have no idea where the cross winds will carry you, one can splat right into a mountain face well above the ground. He didn't bring his own chute, he was given a surplus chute from a school, a chute cooper didn't pack himself, the used chute was recently purchased by the school but not used and quickly re-packed by the schools rigger at the request of seattle PD, there are nothing really to suggest he was a survivalist and much of what that is said and written about are speculation by 3rd party.

If he was experienced as some people suggest, he would have known he's in the mountain range at night in the fall (winter in the mountains) in the rain heavy clouds, cross winds, with 200mph winds hitting the face, he had no idea of his altitude at time of jump (never requested it from the pilot nor requested current location) he never doubled check his reserve or he would have realized it was a trainer thus sewn shut plus his chute was manual ripcord deployment (without an altemeter) and in all of this he jumps in a trench coat wearing loafers, at that kind of wind force them loafers aren't staying on the feet. That's not experience nor a survivalist and there isn't a skydiver known that would have made that jump under those conditions unless being suicidal. What it sounds like, he visited the library and done book reading with no real life experiences, almost all books regarding skydiving at that time were about day jumping not night jumping, no school teaches including the military jumping at night under them conditions.

Too many mistakes for him to be experienced

 

[drt4lfe]

Cooper along with Hoffa and Bigfoot are tied for the World's best at Hide and Seek......

 

[toexist]

Columbia river don't work that way here, one doesn't place an item on the beach and expect it to remain their, we have had many floods in the area the money was found since the hijacking. where he roughly landed at to where the money was found 9yrs later is 1.5hrs away by car, he landed if he landed softly he would have landed up around lake merwin (picture below) in frigid November at night in a storm without an altemeter (no moon) thus the ground will approach much faster than one can realize, in other words, you can't see the mountains, cliffs, big body of water plus you would have no idea where the cross winds will carry you, one can splat right into a mountain face well above the ground. He didn't bring his own chute, he was given a surplus chute from a school, a chute cooper didn't pack himself, the used chute was recently purchased by the school but not used and quickly re-packed by the schools rigger at the request of seattle PD, there are nothing really to suggest he was a survivalist and much of what that is said and written about are speculation by 3rd party.

If he was experienced as some people suggest, he would have known he's in the mountain range at night in the fall (winter in the mountains) in the rain heavy clouds, cross winds, with 200mph winds hitting the face, he had no idea of his altitude at time of jump (never requested it from the pilot nor requested current location) he never doubled check his reserve or he would have realized it was a trainer thus sewn shut plus his chute was manual ripcord deployment (without an altemeter) and in all of this he jumps in a trench coat wearing loafers, at that kind of wind force them loafers aren't staying on the feet. That's not experience nor a survivalist and there isn't a skydiver known that would have made that jump under those conditions unless being suicidal. What it sounds like, he visited the library and done book reading with no real life experiences, almost all books regarding skydiving at that time were about day jumping not night jumping, no school teaches including the military jumping at night under them conditions.

Too many mistakes for him to be experienced

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Makes sense but back then it would have been pretty easy for someone to sneak something on the plane or have it placed there. If it were an inside job like many suspected there could be parts of the puzzle left out that we don't know about. I just can't imagine someone who would attempt such a ploy would be so dumb as to make such obvious mistakes.

I think him requesting a chute was just to throw everyone off.

No matter what happened I highly doubt he was dumb enough 2 use a chute he didn't pack...that wasn't his own.

For all we know he never left that plane.

 

[Maverick]

For all we know he never left that plane.

That's what I always thought, I thought the flight crew conspired the plot. The Military jets that was shadowing the airliner never seen anyone jump nor seen a chute deployed, does make one wonder?

 

[Gazrok]

Yet, all of these "mistakes" completely are at odds with all of the other meticulous planning needed for this heist.....only to then blindly jump to one's death?

Nope, I'm sticking with my assertion...

For all we know he never left that plane.

Always plausible. In fact, the money that was "found" may have been planted just for that reason, for all we know....to complete the narrative, if some went down that path years later...

 

[Maverick]

Yet, all of these "mistakes" completely are at odds with all of the other meticulous planning needed for this heist.....only to then blindly jump to one's death?

Nope, I'm sticking with my assertion...



Always plausible. In fact, the money that was "found" may have been planted just for that reason, for all we know....to complete the narrative, if some went down that path years later...

If he did, I'll take from toexist post "If this guy survived he goes down in history as the legend of legends" Part of me wants him to be alive, besides, a little town here west of me called Ariel has good food on D.B. Cooper Day every year and lots of drinks Ariel was heavily searched for cooper in '71

 

[toexist]

I'm surprised Hollywood hasn't made a motion picture out of this by now. It has blockbuster written all over it.

 

[Proud Prepper]

He never left the plane. Its all part of mis direction. The passenger boarding count was one more than actually boarded the plane. Everything else was then mis direction.

 

[toexist]

He never left the plane. Its all part of mis direction. The passenger boarding count was one more than actually boarded the plane. Everything else was then mis direction.

Either way he embarrassed a lot of people. Status...legendary.

 

[jontte]

Robin Hood written all over it

 

[Gazrok]

He couldn't have stayed on the plane. After releasing the hostages, it was only him and a small flight crew. So, for this to be correct, it would have been one of the flight crew (and you can bet they were all searched and investigated).