Reader Ad Slot
Reader Ad Slot placeholder
If you would like to support SpookStack without paying out of pocket, please consider allowing advertising cookies. It helps cover hosting costs and keeps the archive free to browse. You can change this choice at any time.
D B Cooper — Part 18
Page 414
414 / 503
@ ns e
The attached plot indicates the envelope of possible landing points of the high jacker (HJ).
It is basedlon the following:
~ Picsralt position {rom USAF radar data from McChord AFB furnished by
~ Probable jump time (0411 GMT} from an analysis of the recorded communication
from the flight relative to the cabin pressure fluctuation. Flight tests conducted
on January 6 confirmed that the pressure fluctuation almost certainly occurred at
the time the HJ left the airptane.
nen ee MSL to the ground as determined by]
— Hu i i j ing Company (free-fall)
and who is an expert para—
chutist.
— Time correlation from the above USAF radar information and from the NWA
communications network tape recording.
— Airplane airspeed and altitude from the airplane’s flight recorder,
The plot is explained as follows:
1. The heavy dashed line C~D-E-—S defines the airplane’s probable ground track,
2. Line G—!=J--K defines the westernmost, and Line L~M—-N—-O the easternmost
probable airplane ground tracks based on the stated position tolerance of t.5
nautical mile of the USAF radar plot.
3. Lines A~B, H—P, and O-R are the average wind vectors between 10,000’ MSL and the
ground, and are the tines parallel to which the HJ would drift after the parachute had
opened.
4, Line H-S-T defines the northernmost (earliest) points over which the HJ probably
left the airplane. Line K-F—O defines the southernmost (latest) points over which
the HJ probably teft the airplane. The north-south span of possible jump positions
is a product of the radar position tolerance of ©.5 mile, and the possible communication
time determination tolerance of £1 minute.
5. The area within the boundary defined by Points H~P—Q—R-O~—K-~J—I-~-H marks the
extreme limits of probable fanding points based on the above tolerances. That is, assuming
the highest probable degree of inaccuracy in aircraft position, jump time, wind vector, etc.,
all probable HJ landing points would lie within the area defined by this line.
6. If it ts assumed aircraft position, jump time, wind vector, and other inputs used are all
accurate (without allowance for the above stated tolerances):
a. The HJ’s landing point would be at Point A if his ‘chute did not open, or if he
opened it so soon that the high speed caused ‘chute damage that resulted in the
equivalent of a free~fall to the ground. (The horizontal body trajectory due to
b6
b7TC
DB Cooper-5746
Reveal the original PDF page, then click a word to highlight the OCR text.
Community corrections
No user corrections yet.
Comments
No comments on this document yet.
Bottom Reader Ad Slot
Bottom Reader Ad Slot placeholder
If you would like to support SpookStack without paying out of pocket, please consider allowing advertising cookies. It helps cover hosting costs and keeps the archive free to browse. You can change this choice at any time.
Continue Exploring
Reader
Topic
Agency Collection
Explore This Archive Cluster
Broad Topic Hub
Topic Hub
letter
bureau
Related subtopics
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic