Did Cooper do or say anything to assure that the ‘chutes’ given him were actually going to function?
Did he state that one or more would be used by a crew member?
If not, easiest thing in the world to make a parachute inop.
True statement. I was an active skydiver at the time (2k+ jumps) It was interesting to see all the new prospective jumpers with crewcuts hanging around drop zones trying to fit in. It was a small world back then. I wound up with a lot of attention because I (and many others) fit the loose description well enough for friends to joke about my involvement. I think there is about an 80% chance he did the jump and got away with it.