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

[leftcoast]

KOIN mentioned his status in the community (in detail), but did not mention his various crimes or their serious nature.

WTH was the point of mentioning that someone else's pic was identified as the closest match by facial recognition software, when they follow that up with the fact that Mayfield's photo wasn't included!?!?!?!

Ridiculous reporting. I hope that people see how dumb that last KOIN segment was. But since viewers weren't given all the facts.... it's unlikely.

I agree. the one photo of Weber does resemble the Cooper sketch. However, KOIN failed to do an adequate job reporting the story.

Florence Schaffner told Unsolved Msyteries and us that sketch doesn't look like Cooper. She made a new sketch that resembles our guy, and has a receeding hairline.

Plus, there are actually 5 sketches of db Cooper. Obviously, the Duane Weber camp chose the photo which most resembles him for the comparison. Again, Florence Scaffner said Cooper is not Duane Weber, and he is not Richard McCoy.

LIke I said, I think the final segment was altered to make it seem like Mayfield is innocent for legal reasons. they spent two days implicating him, and maybe the lawyers got nervous, or got a call from Mayfield's attorney. Who knows?

But, I agree, the third piece does not match the first two nights shows. What happened? PLus, it was not accurate.

Cooper's official profile is on the FBi website,

It states: 5"10-6 ft, stocky, compact, muscular. possible brown eyes, wore sunglasses, age 40-50. HIgh hairline. That picture of Weber does not have a high hairline at all.

don't forget: Florence Schaffner, who one of only two witnesses stated that she thought he was 40 years old.

left

 

[leftcoast]

I called Peggy Gilligan - she wasn't there, but I spoke with her (very nice) assistant & gave her what information I had, including that the story was being carried by KOIN. I also gave her my phone number, so we'll see if I hear back.

thanks Adnoid

coming from you, it won't seem like I have a vendetta against him. He is actually a cordial guy, until you cross him.

appreciate it.

Be interesting to know if he is suppose to be working on aircraft. You mentioned he has a Cessna in his wife's name. Please.

You should have heard the distain in his voice about the FAA at lunch. He really, really, hates them. Almost as much as us.

left

 

[leftcoast]

A little story backed by Marion County court records

Our buddy was kicked out of Aurora airport

He moves to a small 8 acre parcel to use for his skydiving.

IT is not big enough, he starts using neighbors property for runways, taxiing, and skydivers are falling on neighbors property all the time

he has parties, invites hundreds of people and creates a disturbance

Neighbors complain, he takes a swing at a neighbor, then tries to kick his 3 year old son.

then, he starts buzzing the neighbor's houses.

the neighbors take him to court and win, in 1971, the court tells him to "stop" his business. He disregards the order, continues the school. He then gets charged with contempt of court. fined, and told to stop.

We all know what happened a few months later, and what agencies investigate aviation problems.

left

 

[leftcoast]

Well, a search of Mayfields in Oregon does give this:

---

FAA Registry
Name Inquiry Results

TEDDY E MAYFIELD

Address

Address is not available


Medical

No Medical Available



Certificates

None

---

What this means is that he once had some, but now does not. You get into the FAA's database when you get your first medical certificate & student permit (mine show up).

So, we know he doesn't have a valid pilot's license since 1981 or so.
What about working on planes? Can we check that?

appreciate it.

left

ps How do you run a skydiving business without a pilot's license. It means you need a pilot on staff all the time, or available at a moments notice. And this is a profitable business.

 

[Jodibug]

Neighbors complain, he takes a swing at a neighbor, then tries to kick his 3 year old son.

Oh my. This man is dangerous. I hope that someone in the media will start to pay attention. I cannot believe that KOIN could have an explosive story... and they threw it away.

Have you talked to the reporter today? I would imagine that if you spoke with him, you'd be able to tell pretty quick if the story was changed due to legal threats, or if he was playing you all along.

 

[Jodibug]

I see adnoid already posted the Sec of State info...

 

[leftcoast]

Oh my. This man is dangerous. I hope that someone in the media will start to pay attention. I cannot believe that KOIN could have an explosive story... and they threw it away.

Have you talked to the reporter today? I would imagine that if you spoke with him, you'd be able to tell pretty quick if the story was changed due to legal threats, or if he was playing you all along.

I have no intention of talking to him today. Let's say I need to calm down, and even then, I don't think so. He put my buddy and I in harm's way a month ago, and now this. Two strikes you are out

As far as the story, I don't know. Donahue kept telling me, "it just seems too obvious".

left

 

[leftcoast]

It would have shown up under "Certificates".



The operator has to have an appropriate certificate. It's a little complicated, but even if HE never flies a plane the BUSINESS has to be certificated by the FAA - they examine safety procedures, training, etc. on a case by case basis.

There is no Corporation for his business that I can find, so if he is operating it he would have to hold the certificate personally.

Ya, the FAA shut down his skydiving school in 1994 after the 13th fatality.

But, he is working on planes at his hangar, there are no two ways about it. So, basically, he is not certified to work on planes. Is that correct? that would explain why he told Donahue all he does is paint planes? Where is the FAA? Where is the IRS? Where is the FBi? come on.

left

 

[leftcoast]

Oh my. This man is dangerous. I hope that someone in the media will start to pay attention. I cannot believe that KOIN could have an explosive story... and they threw it away.

Have you talked to the reporter today? I would imagine that if you spoke with him, you'd be able to tell pretty quick if the story was changed due to legal threats, or if he was playing you all along.

This is nothing. In 1971, he holds up a grocery store with a .45 pistol. And all he gets is 5 years probation. then, he is terrorizing neighbors in Donald, then we know what. Anybody see a pattern?

left

Does anybody think he doesn't have it in him to be so callous as to hijack a jet?

funny, when we had lunch with h-bach in 2001. The first words he used to call Ted were "callous". Now, why would a callous man help the FBI investigate a hijacking? for free? help a guy who got him kicked out of an airport. Common sense.

 

[leftcoast]

INSIDE EDITION SHOW

It will be on tomorrow, not today.

Just received the news.

left

 

[Rhett]

Maybe the FBI caught wind of the story before it aired or at least after the first show and began investigating. The FBI could have asked KOIN to end the series the way it did so as not to totally spook Mayfield.

 

[leftcoast]

Maybe the FBI caught wind of the story before it aired or at least after the first show and began investigating. The FBI could have asked KOIN to end the series the way it did so as not to totally spook Mayfield.

good thought Rhett.

I think it is a possibility. I hope. I really do.

thanks for the thought

I wondered why KOIN didn't ask the current FBI for an interview about this case, and a status update. interesting.

left

 

[leftcoast]

Painting a plane requires significant disassembly. Look at all the screw heads - you can't just paint over them. Hinges & control surfaces, antennas, etc. all have to be dealt with. Hence, you need an FAA certificate to do it and be legal. If he has one I can't find it, and I'm pretty good at that.



Well, I did call them...

thanks Adnoid:

this is not a witch hunt on my part. I never even knew who this guy was until we started investigating him back in 2000.

LIke I have stated earlier, he is almost impossible not to like.

However, I do know his past. He was negligent in packing parachutes, maintaining his plane for skydiving, putting in the static line, and calibrating the cypress device that he willingly knew was defective.

Yet, according to the DA and FAA, he let someone jump, and it led to two seperate deaths. Then, he destroys video of the jumps so the FAA couldn't view them.

Then, tells the media and court, the FAA is after a witch hunt and that they havn't gotten along for years.

Now, he is working on planes. That scares the hell out of me.

do we really think the people who are paying him know about his background?

Maybe he is buying the planes, working on them, and selling them, maybe that is how he is getting around this?

Imagine being at 12,000 feet, and oops,

I am geniunely scared for the people who own those planes. do I think he is a great mechanic and qualified? Yes, probably. But, he still needs to be certified if that is what the FAA requires. There is a rule in place for a reason. Plus, after 9/11, anybody with a checkered past scares me. I don't think I am over reacting.

For the record, those planes are torn apart when we are there. the wings are off, the instruments are pulled, etc. This isn't a EArl Schieb type of thing. He even admitted to us on our first visit he was putting in a new artificial horizon, or something that goes in the dashboard of the cessna. It was some type of navigational aid if I remember correctly. Because we were asking about a portable VOR at the time. Yes, I know for certain that it is a cessna, and not a hyperlite or ultralight.

Thanks for all the help Adnoid

left

 

[Mountaineer]

Adnoid - I had sent this to Left earlier this week in a pm. This is also on the FAA's website...


FAA Registry
Name Inquiry Results

TED E MAYFIELD

Address
Address is not available


Medical
Medical Class: SecondMedical Date: 8/1981


Certificates
1 of 1

DOI:4/2/1976Certificate:PRIVATE PILOT
Rating(s):PRIVATE PILOT
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND

 

[scandi]

good thought Rhett.

I think it is a possibility. I hope. I really do.

thanks for the thought

I wondered why KOIN didn't ask the current FBI for an interview about this case, and a status update. interesting.

left

I'm suppose to be working , but Left, what you pointed out earlier today I think is very very telling, that is including in the show that a John Doe warrant was put in place for the hijacker that lasts till he is dead! Thank goodness they at least included that.

Oh Adnoid, Thanks so for calling Peggy's office. .}
Scandi

 

[leftcoast]

Adnoid: PLease use English for those of us not in aviation. What is ASEL? Is that a pilot's license?

I do think Mountianeer has the same guy, don't you?

How many Teddy Ernest Mayfield, born 9/5/35 can there be.

I see what you are saying. Am I right in assuming his pilots license was issued in 1976?

If so, maybe he didn't have a valid pilot's license until 1976.

maybe he used licensed pilots for his skydiving school and he was just an instructor.

I do know a larry olson was a pilot of his in the 70's.

I do know he lost his license in the 1980's.

Maybe he never had a pilots license in the 70's, and pulled a fast one on the FAA and FBI.

thanks

left

Don't forget Adnoid, he was popped in the 80's for flying without a valid pilots license. Hard to imagine it was the first time. I asked him how one gets caught, and he told me it is almost impossible to get caught. He said someone has to turn you in.

 

[leftcoast]

HE also spent time in Alaska in the early 60's, and then the military, until coming gack to Oregon in 1964. He has lived here since then.

He also frequents Arizona, Wyoming,

left

 

[Jodibug]

My DH did a TIVO search and found IE. He said it is on at 10:30 am weekdays though, so if it is being shown on Friday evening, I probably won't get it until Monday. (Assuming that IE that we found is from the day before).

Anyway... I told him to record he series and I'd watch for a few days to see if I can find it.

 

[leftcoast]

My DH did a TIVO search and found IE. He said it is on at 10:30 am weekdays though, so if it is being shown on Friday evening, I probably won't get it until Monday. (Assuming that IE that we found is from the day before).

Anyway... I told him to record he series and I'd watch for a few days to see if I can find it.

Jodi

My media friend may post the inside edition on the web for everyone to view tomorrow.

Also, I know Inside Edition has a weekend show, so maybe it will be on the weekend recap.

left

ps I have no idea as to the content. I know they interviewed Mayfield, us, and h-bach. guess what, two against one.

I think we should have a nationally televised debate between mayfield and me regarding this case. Live. and see what is what. I'm sure people will enjoy the "acid story" and the "checking out the mechanics" stories. Both are classics.

 

[Kgram]

I've been fascinated by this thread. I was wondering if the interviews on KOIN and the Inside Edition stories can be put on youtube? I know a lot of times I want to see something from a news channel only to find it no longer available. Koin may not leave it up for viewing for very long. I have forwarded the link for this thread to a few people (pilots) who will be interested in it. My old boss flies airplanes and helicopters says he is very interested to look at it but does not have the time right now. Another thing I was wondering about is if this is the guy he would not admit it for fear of prison so do you think it's possible he may have a journal about it and have it in a safe place so his "loved ones" would find it after his death and write a book to make a lot of $$$? That would be a huge slap in the face to the FBI, profiting twice for the same crime.