WA WA - D.B. Cooper hijacking mystery, 24 Nov 1971 - #1

[leftcoast]

Well, the grainy photo and the current day Mayfield bear an uncanny resemblance to the sketch made of the suspect. I really believe that you have your man.

Thanks. The best drawing of Cooper was made in 1988, and it fits him to a "t". I do see a resemblance in the drawings.

I think with that, the flight attendants statement, all the criminal background, him living in a houseboat on the Columbia across from the airport, him being a world champion skydiver, a pilot, compact, stocky, high forehead, big drinker, likes to brag, had a daughter living in Seattle at the time of the heist (cooper knew distances of places in Seattle), his armed robbery conviction in 1971, losing his job in 1971, having no job and his own airport, 2,500 sq ft building, planes, etc in 1972, etc, etc.

Thanks everyone for all the support.

Another big item is his knowledge of the area where Cooper jumped. He had been flying and jumping in the Portland area for years. People always like to commit crimes where they feel comfortable.


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[nanandjim]

...losing his job in 1971, having no job and his own airport, 2,500 sq ft building, planes, etc in 1972, etc, etc...

How did he say that he got the money to buy his own private airstrip? Surely, that can be traced.

 

[leftcoast]

A huge clue

You want to know something in this case that is very funny.

If Cooper had stayed in the Portland area, and demanded parachutes, money , etc from the Portland area, guess who would have been called to supply the parachutes?

Right. Our suspect.

He is the only rigger in the yellow pages in the year 1971.

Now we know why he sent the plane to Seattle, and only gave the fBI one hour to secure the money and chutes.

There is a comment in one of the books that Cooper "didn't believe the chutes were coming from another city". I wonder how he knew this.

Don't forget, our suspect knew EC, the man who packed and made the chutes for Cooper. talk about having everything planned to a "t".

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[leftcoast]

How did he say that he got the money to buy his own private airstrip? Surely, that can be traced.

the airstrip is broken into two seperate properties

He controlled both properties from 1972 until 1994.

He still lives at the one end, where he owns 10 acres, a small house, and an airstrip, and a huge hangar ( about 4,000 sq ft) big enough for a cessna.

the other end of the airstrip was 36 acres of land. He leased that land in 1972, and erected a 2,500 sq ft frame building, that resembles a house more than a business. It was used to house his skydiving business.

that building, is gutted, but still stands today.

A third party owns the 36 acres, and the gutted building. The man from Portland, bought the property in 1994 for about 200,000. It is now worth about 360,000, give or take.

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[nanandjim]

I think that you have your guy. He is very shrewd. I don't think that he would get away with it today, given the security and amount of surveillance. However, his plan was obviously very well planned.

Anyway, short of him confessing, what are the chances that he would actually be convicted? I can see a jury saying that Mayfield is most probably Cooper. However, would a jury be willing to convict this old guy?

 

[leftcoast]

On Rock Creek Road perhaps?

correct

Adnoid, you mentioned you could find the information on houses.

what about rock creek road, I think it transferred "legally" to him in 1988. I think he "legally" only owns 20% of, the other name is a friend of his that we have met. the other guy owns a tow truck company in a neighboring city.

The other address 394 NW ORchard, Sheridan, Oregon is where the 2,500 sq ft building was erected on leased land.

I don't think there is any information available, other than the guy who owns the 36 acres today. back in the 70's, a woman from Minnesota owned it, and leased it to our friend. AS far as I know, that building has never shown up on any info. at the assessor. \

Any info. you can get would be helpful

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[leftcoast]

I think that you have your guy. He is very shrewd. I don't think that he would get away with it today, given the security and amount of surveillance. However, his plan was obviously very well planned.

Anyway, short of him confessing, what are the chances that he would actually be convicted? I can see a jury saying that Mayfield is most probably Cooper. However, would a jury be willing to convict this old guy?

Heck ya, It would be impossible today, with post 9-11 security, and all, not to mention FLIR. that plane would never be allowed to take off, and it shouldn't have been back in 1971. Don't forget, it was a different, more innocent time.

It would be very difficult to convict him. that is not what really matters to me. I just want him to know we figured it out, and give the flight attendants piece of mind,

Also, we should let the flight attendants know we are behind them. too many people back in 1971 rooted for this guy, thinking he was robin hood.

Does his background look like Robin Hood? Just a career criminal who terrorized two innocent 22 year old women, and ruined their dreams of seeing the world as flight attendants.

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[leftcoast]

Oregon gives limited info - here's the assessor's records, it's 10 acres with a sub 1000 sf house. I'll work on the other address.

http://www.co.yamhill.or.us/taxinfo/PropResults.aspx?AccountNo=218106

Thanks Adnoid:

I didn't know his property was worth 400,000. Why isn't he taxed on his hangar? His house is probably only worth 100,000, but that hangar is worth another 100,000. Plus, the ten acres.

good job

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ps HE sure did turn his life around after 1971. Lost his job, armed robbery, and now look at him. HMMM, I wonder how he did it?

 

[Schmerty_Jones]

Thanks Adnoid:

I didn't know his property was worth 400,000. Why isn't he taxed on his hangar? His house is probably only worth 100,000, but that hangar is worth another 100,000. Plus, the ten acres.

good job

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ps HE sure did turn his life around after 1971. Lost his job, armed robbery, and now look at him. HMMM, I wonder how he did it?

Nothing to do with $20 bills I'm sure. Leftcoast thanks for all you have done .I know you will have great satisfaction helping the victims of this crime & perhaps of his other crimes. Thanks most of all for sharing this with us allowing us to participate in the feeling we're doing the world some good .Adnoid ,you sure can get at great info. THANKS

 

[leftcoast]

Nothing to do with $20 bills I'm sure. Leftcoast thanks for allyou have done .I know you will have great satisfaction helping the victims of this crime & perhaps of his other crimes. Thanks most of all for sharing this with us allowing us to participate in the feeling we're doing the world some goodAdnoid ,you sure can get at great info. THANKS.

You are welcome.

This is kind of surreal. I hate that word, but, it fits here. We never intended to solve this crime. Heck, one would be crazy if they thought they could solve a crime the FBI couldn't.

But, it would give me great satisfaction to have him arrested (if guilty), have his assets seized, Northwest airlines and their insurance carrier gets their money back, Florence and Tina get answers, and we get a reward.

thanks to all for your support.

I know I am biased, but, how much evidence does one need to get an indictment? Heck, the Duke kids were indicted for a lot less.


thanks again

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[leftcoast]

Curious. That address does not exist, although if it did it would correspond to this 32 acre site:

http://www.co.yamhill.or.us/taxinfo/PropResults.aspx?AccountNo=217474

The address to send tax bills for THAT address goes to an adjacent 5 acre site:

http://www.co.yamhill.or.us/taxinfo/PropResults.aspx?AccountNo=217731

The first one appears to be the correct property. That address is a "valid" address. Trust me. The county assessor is behind the times.

If you do a US Search on our guy, it actually gives the 394 NW orchard as one of his addresses.

Another thing, go to google, and type in the 394 NW ORchard address. It will show you the property.

I still think that building was built under the radar. No permits, no taxes, etc. who knows, the owner could be clueless about Cooper since she lived in Minnesota.

thanks adnoid

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[leftcoast]

Adnoid

If you look at the video on KOIN, you can actually see the building he erected in 1972 in the background.

As his hyperlite is taxiing, and getting ready to turn for take-off, the white building in the background is the one.

the point where he turns his plane around is where the property line ends, and the 36 acre parcel begins. I get a kick out of him not using the adjacent property to take off while the camera's were rolling.

By the way, he doesn't have a valid pilots license anymore. THE FAA snagged it years ago. Guess why?

Now he flies ultralights, which don't require a pilots license.

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[arielilane]

Hi Leftcoast, If this person is DB Cooper, thank you for bringing him out in the open. Your tenacity is to be commended. No one is exempt from punishment for commiting a crime against others and at least you were able to do more than the FBI. I know many get away.

 

[leftcoast]

Hi Leftcoast, If this person is DB Cooper, thank you for bringing him out in the open. Your tenacity is to be commended. No one is exempt from punishment for commiting a crime against others and at least you were able to do more than the FBI. I know many get away.

Thanks

I really, really believe he is the man. I would never, ever, accuse somebody I didn't research for years, before accusing.

THe FBI never even had what they would call a 'good suspect". Some of their top 20 suspects could never even be placed in Oregon on that night. We did get much, much, closer than the FBI. Cooper was not a fool, and the bureau was caught off guard.

I agree, most crimes go unsolved. I'll bet 1 in 10 crimes is solved. Some go unreported, some victims are afraid to tesify or report the crime, etc.

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[leftcoast]

Let me think...

For those who don't know - an Airman certificate never expires. Your MEDICAL certificate is good anywhere from 6 months (Airline pilot) to 2 years (Private pilot).

To have the FAA revoke your actual Airman certificate means you've been very naughty. The actual reasons will be in FAR part 61 (IIRC), but off the top of my head:

--Responsible for an accident resulting in significant injury or death;

--more than one DUI;

--Conviction on narcotics charges;


--Reckless operation of an aircraft

He claims he lost his medical. I know better.

He actually was tried in court in the 80's for flying without a valid pilots license.

I know he broke at least two of the above.

Flying recklessly, dui's.

Plus, what about for stealing airplanes

Not to mention buzzing neighbors houses because they were complaining of noise from your planes.

The guy was, and is a bully.

those days are over.

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ps Don't forget, he was kicked out of the Aurora, Oregon airport in 1969 because he was not following FAA rules, ie he was reckless and cutting off other pilots. He moved to Donald, and used a 8 acre parcel, and began feuding with neighbors over noise, and the government was shutting him down in Donald. Then, mysteriously, Dan Cooper shows up at the airport.Hmm.

 

[leftcoast]

Unbelievable.

KOIN did a survey in Portland

60% of those who responded think Cooper died that night.

And we wonder why OJ and Robert Blake were acquitted.

does anyone know the odds of not finding a body that close to Portland in 35 years, almost impossible.

The government sent in 400 troops from Ft Lewis who searched the drop zone for 6 weeks in 1972. They found absolutely nothing. Come on Portland, wake up.

And to find three bundles buried on a beach. come on, we are suppose to be an intelligent superpower. Aren't we???????

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[leftcoast]

Adnoid"

thanks for all the help

Anyway to find out why someone lost their pilots license?

Or is that information classified? Or can someone with "pull", find out.

thanks

left

Where is the IRS when you need them. How can this guy keep on flying under the radar with the IRS? Come on, how did he acquire his assets? And how did he support himself by having a skydiving business in Oregon where it rains every other day. His airstrip is flooded in the winter and not useable. And yet we are suppose to believe it is a profitable business.

LOOk at a map. Sheridan is in the middle of nowhere. Great place to hide. Not a great place to start a skydiving business, especially next to a lumber yard, railroad tracks, and thirty six acres is not a big enough area for amatuers to land. Hence, all of the fatalities.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Unbelievable.

KOIN did a survey in Portland

60% of those who responded think Cooper died that night.

And we wonder why OJ and Robert Blake were acquitted.

does anyone know the odds of not finding a body that close to Portland in 35 years, almost impossible.

The government sent in 400 troops from Ft Lewis who searched the drop zone for 6 weeks in 1972. They found absolutely nothing. Come on Portland, wake up.

And to find three bundles buried on a beach. come on, we are suppose to be an intelligent superpower. Aren't we???????

left

They'll see more to convince them otherwise in your next 2 segments, I'm sure!

 

[leftcoast]

They'll see more to convince them otherwise in your next 2 segments, I'm sure!

I hope. I think a lot of people have never been skydiving, and don't understand how safe it really is.

USPA stats: One death for every 60,000 jumps. That is very safe.

McCoy, McNally, and others have done the same jump, and walked away unharmed. Our guy was a pro, they were not.

Our suspect has 8,642 jumps to date. Now, does that include jumps under a fictitious name?

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Ps You know what is ironic about this case. THe FBI actually used our suspect as a source of information. After the heist, H-bach would call Ted and he would help identify potential suspects. But, our suspect never, ever, called the FBI after that night offering his help, or to suggest possible suspects. I guess he didn't need the 25,000 reward, ya know, being independently wealthy and all.

Funny thing, that he only called the night of the hijacking, and never again. Hmm. Makes me wonder why?

 

[leftcoast]

So did I until I saw your work & thought about it.

Interesting Adnoid

Was it because it went unsolved?
OR because of the money?

I have an argument going on with a local radio host, Lars Larson, who is 100% convinced that McCoy is Cooper. He won't listen to any information. From him, I gleaned, that once "most" people make up their minds on something, it is very, very difficult to get them to change their thoughts.

Glad to hear you are open minded Adnoid, and I was able to sway you. I have found that the most intelligent people are those who are willing to change their minds when presented with a valid argument. Others, think that changin one's mind is a sign they were wrong to start with, and unwilling or unable to admit such.

I must admit, before I started, I entertained the thought. But, after I found out how close Cooper jumped to Portland, I realized how unlikely it is a body would not be found in 35 years. Especially since the jet was following v-23, radar reports knew about where he jumped, etc.

Once the money was found in 1980, I think it sealed the deal that he escaped. That money could not have washed up on its own. It is virtually impossible that three bundles could land, bury themselves, and no other evidence.

Plus, through Adnoid's work, we have basically proven how extremely unlikely it was that the jet was even anywhere close to the Columbia river when Cooper jumped. The jet was at least 20 miles north of the Columbia river when Cooper jumped.

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