Part 72, page 15

Transcript

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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

1 Date 11/29/71

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On this date, the reporting Agent made available to [REDACTED] of Nellis Air Force Base, a parachute which had been opened and abandoned on a Boeing 727 Northwest Orient airplane, at Reno, Nevada, on the night of November 24, 1971. [REDACTED] Air Force Base and [REDACTED] at Nellis [REDACTED]. In the presence of the reporting Agent, these men examined said parachute, and announced that prior to its having been released from its container by someone pulling the rip cord, it was in operational condition and could have been utilized for a parachute jump. They advised that someone had cut the lines attaching the chute itself to the canvas pack it was originally packed in. They also noted that while the nylon chute itself was in good condition, two of the 24 nylon lines attaching same to the canvas pack had been cut and removed. They advised that this type of parachute was generally used by sky jumpers inasmuch as the pilot chute had been removed and removal was noted on the inspection card contained in a pocket of the canvas pack. This card identified the parachute as a 24 foot Ripstock type; DA-58-53912 as the serial number; manufactured in October 1959; owned by the [REDACTED] Issaquah, Washington., This card showed that the parachute had been inspected and repacked on September 16, 1971, at Issaquah, Washington, by Rigger E. S. COSSEY, Riggers License Number 1579638.

[REDACTED] stated that his expert opinion that said parachute was in operational condition prior to its release from its canvas pack by the pulling of the rip cord was contingent on the fact that no one had opened and repacked said parachute subsequent to its having been inspected and repacked by Rigger E. S. COSSEY as noted on the inspection card record contained in the canvas pack at time of his examination. He advised that all riggers of parachutes are licensed and when they sign the inspection card they are certifying that said parachute is packed so as to be in a life saving condition. Therefore, he is of the opinion that whoever pulled the rip cord and released the chute from its canvas pack, then proceeded to cut the shroud lines free of the canvas pack and also cut and removed two of the shroud lines.

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SEARCHED _____ INDEXED _____ SERIALIZED _____ FILED _____ 64-8EC 1 31971 FBI - SEATTLE

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On 11/26/71 cNellis Air Force Base, NevadaFile# LV 164-81

by SA FRANCIS J. SCHMIDT - tlw Date dictated 11/26/71

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

DB Cooper-30791