DB COOPER
An independent investigative archive documenting evidence, government files, witness statements, media reports, public theories, timelines, and unresolved questions surrounding one of America's most mysterious unsolved cases.
Case Overview
On November 24, 1971, an unidentified man using the name "Dan Cooper" hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, demanded $200,000 in ransom, and parachuted from the aircraft during flight somewhere over the Pacific Northwest. Despite decades of investigation by the FBI and independent researchers, the identity and fate of the hijacker remain unknown.
This archive exists to organize evidence, preserve historical records, document timelines, and encourage responsible public discussion surrounding the case.
Investigation Database
Evidence Objects
Physical evidence, ransom bills, aircraft evidence, recovered materials, and related forensic information.
Browse EvidenceWitness Statements
Flight crew interviews, passenger observations, and investigative interviews.
Read StatementsFBI & FOIA Files
Government releases, official records, memorandums, and investigative documents.
Open FilesTimeline Events
Chronological reconstruction of events before, during, and after the hijacking.
View TimelinePublic Theories
Structured theories separated from verified evidence and historical documentation.
View TheoriesMedia Archive
Newspaper reports, television coverage, historic publications, and documentaries.
Browse ArchiveLATEST CASE UPDATES
5.30.26 - Update
There has been a lot of new information released. Read Chuck Denny's update on the DB Cooper!
See PostWatch it Here!
Flight crew interviews, passenger observations, and investigative interviews - coming soon!.
Watch Video HereFeatured Evidence Objects
Recovered Ransom Bills (Tena Bar)
In February 1980, 8-year-old Brian Ingram discovered three packets of the ransom money totaling $5,800 degraded along the wet shoreline of the Columbia River at Tena Bar, roughly 9 miles downstream from Vancouver, Washington. The serial numbers matched the FBI master list.
The Clip-On Black Tie
A black clip-on tie manufactured by J.C. Penney was recovered from passenger seat 18-E after the aircraft landed. In modern post-2000 forensic runs, structural labs extracted over 100 particles of rare materials from the tie fibers, including pure titanium, bismuth, and cerium.
The NB-6 Parachute Shrouds
Cooper was provided two primary parachutes and two reserve parachutes. He cut the nylon shroud lines from an un-modified military-issue NB-6 emergency parachute canopy to secure the ransom money bag to his torso before jumping.
Timeline of Events
November 24, 1971 - 4:00 PM
A man traveling under the alias 'Dan Cooper' boards Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 at Portland International Airport bound for Seattle, Washington. He takes seat 18-C and orders a drink.
Flight En Route
Cooper hands flight attendant Florence Schaffner a note claiming he has a bomb in his briefcase. He demands $200,000 in negotiable US currency, four parachutes, and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle.
Seattle Airport - 5:46 PM
Flight 305 lands at Sea-Tac Airport. Cooper exchanges the 36 passengers for the cash container and parachutes. The aircraft is refueled, and Cooper orders a flight path toward Reno, Nevada at minimum speed.
In-Flight Jump - 8:13 PM
While flying through a heavy winter storm over southwest Washington, the aircraft cabin experiences a sudden pressure change. The aft airstairs are fully deployed. Cooper jumps into the night with the ransom money.
Open Questions
Did Cooper Survive?
No confirmed remains or equipment have ever been conclusively linked to the hijacker.
Why Was Money Found?
The discovery of ransom money near the river continues to generate competing theories.
Was Cooper Military Trained?
Investigators continue debating the suspect's knowledge of aviation and parachuting.
Document Archive
FBI Investigation Files Witness Interview Transcripts Flight Path Analysis Historical Newspaper Coverage Photographic Evidence Archive Public Records & FOIA ReleasesSubmit Information
Do you possess historical documents, photographs, witness accounts, family stories, archived material, or investigative information related to the DB Cooper case?
Submissions may be reviewed for historical and investigative relevance.
This archive distinguishes between verified evidence, historical reporting, public theories, and unverified submissions. Publication decisions are independently reviewed. No claims of guilt or criminal accusations are asserted without documented sourcing.