The Legend of D. B. Cooper
Myths Exposed

There have been many myths incorporated in the FBI theory that D. B. Cooper died when he hit the ground on that cold, windy night on November 24, 1971. The following is a sample of the myths dispelled in the book.

Myth

Details in the Book

Cooper was a fool because he didn't request a specific route for the plane to fly

Cooper was an experienced private pilot who knew the route the 727 would fly based on the speed, altitude, and destination requested

Cooper was not a skydiving expert because he did not choose the best chute for the jump

According to a skydiving expert with over 8000 jumps, there would have been no way of knowing which of the chutes that were provided would have been best without opening them. When he took apart one of the backpack chutes to use the lines, he would have assumed the second chute was identical.

Cooper died in the jump in a heavily wooded area in Southwestern Washington

If this were true, how do we explain the fact that no trace of a body or a parachute was found after extensive searching? The search area pinpointed by the FBI was only ten miles from interstate five.

The jump occurred over Ariel, Washington. This is known by the FBI because of a pressure bump felt by the pilot of the 727.

According to engineers and pilots with expert knowledge of the 727, there are other explanations for the pressure bump that was felt. Also, why would anyone jump into a mountainous, heavily wooded area at night when there were huge, flat fields only 9 minutes away that would be safe for a nighttime landing.

It is questionable that anyone could survive that jump due to the temperature that night and the speed of the aircraft.

According to our jump expert, the temperature would have made it uncomfortable but would have been endurable due to the short period of time required for the freefall. Also, hundreds of people jump yearly from a 727 to celebrate the anniversary of the jump. We have been told by two people who have made this jump more than once, one-hundred people can jump from the back of a 727, with all of them making it back to the designated target at the airport.

The $5,800 of the Cooper money found by Brian Ingram in 1980 was most likely dropped during the jump and traveled down rivers to its resting spot.

If we are to believe the FBI's jump site theory, the money could not have traveled to the spot on its own. Also, the money could not have been exposed to the elements for eight years and still have been in the condition it was found.

The rubber bands were still intact, though somewhat deteriorated. They could have not been exposed to the elements for more than one to two years

The area where the money was found had been dredged in 1974. Geologists commissioned by the FBI stated the money had to have been deposited there two to 4 years after that year.

Judging from the direction of the winds reported that night and the flight path of the 727, the money would have fallen directly under the flight path or slightly to the east. There is no reasonable explanation of how the money could have landed 25 miles southwest of the jump site. The money had to be planted there later, dispelling the theory that Cooper died in the jump. (See the map here.)

Myth	Details in the Book
Cooper was a fool because he didn't request a specific route for the plane to fly	Cooper was an experienced private pilot who knew the route the 727 would fly based on the speed, altitude, and destination requested
Cooper was not a skydiving expert because he did not choose the best chute for the jump	According to a skydiving expert with over 8000 jumps, there would have been no way of knowing which of the chutes that were provided would have been best without opening them. When he took apart one of the backpack chutes to use the lines, he would have assumed the second chute was identical.
Cooper died in the jump in a heavily wooded area in Southwestern Washington	If this were true, how do we explain the fact that no trace of a body or a parachute was found after extensive searching? The search area pinpointed by the FBI was only ten miles from interstate five.
The jump occurred over Ariel, Washington. This is known by the FBI because of a pressure bump felt by the pilot of the 727.	According to engineers and pilots with expert knowledge of the 727, there are other explanations for the pressure bump that was felt. Also, why would anyone jump into a mountainous, heavily wooded area at night when there were huge, flat fields only 9 minutes away that would be safe for a nighttime landing.
It is questionable that anyone could survive that jump due to the temperature that night and the speed of the aircraft.	According to our jump expert, the temperature would have made it uncomfortable but would have been endurable due to the short period of time required for the freefall. Also, hundreds of people jump yearly from a 727 to celebrate the anniversary of the jump. We have been told by two people who have made this jump more than once, one-hundred people can jump from the back of a 727, with all of them making it back to the designated target at the airport.
The $5,800 of the Cooper money found by Brian Ingram in 1980 was most likely dropped during the jump and traveled down rivers to its resting spot.	If we are to believe the FBI's jump site theory, the money could not have traveled to the spot on its own. Also, the money could not have been exposed to the elements for eight years and still have been in the condition it was found. The rubber bands were still intact, though somewhat deteriorated. They could have not been exposed to the elements for more than one to two years The area where the money was found had been dredged in 1974. Geologists commissioned by the FBI stated the money had to have been deposited there two to 4 years after that year. Judging from the direction of the winds reported that night and the flight path of the 727, the money would have fallen directly under the flight path or slightly to the east. There is no reasonable explanation of how the money could have landed 25 miles southwest of the jump site. The money had to be planted there later, dispelling the theory that Cooper died in the jump. (See the map here.)