The fact the money never got reported argues against his survival, and the fact no person with his description was reported missing in the right time frame argues for his survival. Let's assume he did survive and go for the big question, or as much of it as we can go for. Who was d b cooper? You've said that we won't be able to name him, but what can we figure out about the kind of man he was, and who would make a good suspect? Well, the first thing to say is that he was a very calm man with a good bit of self control. He didn't behave as if he was violent or hiped up on a drenlan during the high jacking, in marked contrast to standard way hihjackers behaved. He also, though, did have a thrill seeking streak in him. Because only a thrill seeker would come up with this kind of plan, making your escape by jumping out of an airplane in the dark, in the rain. He also was considerate and polite towards the flight crew, paying for his drinks, even after he took control of the plane, and trying to tip the flight attendants and offering to have the airline bring in meals for them while they were on the ground. He also was left handed, which eliminates 90 % of the population as suspects, because only about ten % of people are left handed. He also was clearly a very intelligent man. He put a lot of planning and forethought into what he did, as became obvious as the plan unfolded. The fact he demanded multiple rachutes so his couldn't be sabotage is just one illustration of that. What about his personal background? Does his choice of the name, dan cooper suggest anything? Potentially, as we mention, there was a line of comic books in europe about a royal canadian air force aviator named dan cooper. These were popular in belgium, and they were written in french, but they had never been translated into english or sold in am rica. As a result, some have suggested that cooper may have been a serviceman who encountered them while stationed in europe. On the other hand, they were sold in canada. So he could have spent time in canada, either as an american living there, or if he was a canadian citizen. And when he demanded the money, he used an unusual phrase, saying thathe wanted 200 thousand in negotiable american currency.