When ol’ D.B. Cooper exited that Boeing 727 through the center rear door at cruise airspeed, he went `ass over teakettle’ (investigator’s words), wrapped himself in his chute, and ended up with his bones and the cash (some of it recovered) lying scattered across Oregon deep woods to this day.
I remember riding on 727s after 1971. You’d get up to go back to the restroom, and see a big sign on the center rear ramp declaring that it could NOT be opened in flight.
Rest in pieces, D.B.
;^)
Figure with that rear stairway down the air coming around it must have been disturbed to say the least.
If he weren't prepared for that it must have come as a disagreeable surprise to say the least! If he panicked and pulled the cord—streamer city.