Did they ever find out who he was?

Did they ever find out who he was?

Yes, someone identified him after the segment I think.

He was positively identified as Brian Stanley Duecker. The search for his idenity took eight years, but he was finally identified in 1999, and his loved ones finally learned what had become of him.

After the his identity was confirmed, it was brought to light that Duecker had some mental health issues. This may explain his demeanor when he made the fatal effort to go on the plane in 1991.

He was positively identified as Brian Stanley Duecker. The search for his idenity took eight years, but he was finally identified in 1999, and his loved ones finally learned what had become of him.

After the his identity was confirmed, it was brought to light that Duecker had some mental health issues. This may explain his demeanor when he made the fatal effort to go on the plane in 1991.

Thanks for that!

IIRC, he suffered from schizophrenia which would explain his delusions and paranoia that someone was after him.

Was he a soldier, or an exotic dancer as the segment suggested?

Was he a soldier, or an exotic dancer as the segment suggested?

If anything, he was an athlete. In fact, there is a picture of him running in a race at the "Find A Grave" web site.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5858369

I remember that episode. They said he was wearing something like dockers or jeans and a leather jacket. They said that he waited near the runway and when the plane went to take off, run up and jumped on the wing. He was later found, after someone said they saw something fall from the plane, near the end of the runway after hitting the fence.

Off topic but I love how in this episode Robert Stack is forced to mention that the mystery man's public hair had been trimmed or shaved. It somehow brings out the Beavis in me every time.

Off topic but I love how in this episode Robert Stack is forced to mention that the mystery man's public hair had been trimmed or shaved. It somehow brings out the Beavis in me every time.

It wasn't Stack from memory it was the doctor that examined him.

Wow, the picture of him running (on the find a grave website) bares a strong resemblance to the actor in the UM segment.

Wow, the picture of him running (on the find a grave website) bares a strong resemblance to the actor in the UM segment.

It's not always the case is it? :)

This is one of the segments I remember watching as a kid. Glad to see its been solved. I actually remember reading somewhere about a kid who rode a plane and survived!

Did they ever identify "Estelle" the (living) Jane Doe also profiled in the segment?

Yes they did identify "Estelle"! Let me find that article that tells about it and I'll post it here.

Here it is. She was identified as Nancy Sue McDonald in 1992:
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1084128

Thank you. I had wondered this for a while, too. I did a quick search for her name. I think this is her:

http://www.tributes.com/show/87065501

The age is right, as is the Houston connection. I wonder if she ever recovered to any degree... :(

Thanks for that!


yes thank you. This one always stood out to me from watching UM as a kid. I always thought it was a weird case. I am about to watch it but i seem to remember them thinking he could have been a male stripper because he had groomed pubic hair. Does that make me a stripper?

yes thank you. This one always stood out to me from watching UM as a kid. I always thought it was a weird case. I am about to watch it but i seem to remember them thinking he could have been a male stripper because he had groomed pubic hair. Does that make me a stripper?

TMI :lol:

This Brian Duecker case is crazy; I know this guy was mentally ill, but why would anyone be so messed up that they would jump onto the wing of a small plane right before it took off - and think that they would be able to survive by hanging onto the plane until it landed?!

I wonder if this guy wanted to commit suicide, though they never said or implied that in the segment.

I wonder if the pilot(s) of the plane knew that Brian was hanging onto the wing; this was also never mentioned in the segment. Though, even if they did know - there was nothing they could do about this.

Sad & bizarre.

I wonder if the pilot(s) of the plane knew that Brian was hanging onto the wing; this was also never mentioned in the segment. Though, even if they did know - there was nothing they could do about this.

Sad & bizarre.[/QUOTE]


I agree. Very Bizarre! If I was the pilot I’d probably freak out, Staring - it’s the DEVIL HIMSELF on the wing.