On October 2, 1988, a Cessna Robertson 337A (registration N6314F) operated by Edwin L. Bond was involved in an aviation accident near Eliza Island, WA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Cessna/Robertson 337 stalled during a steep climbing left turn after departure from a 1600-foot grass strip in gusty headwinds, descending vertically to the ground.
Departure and Maneuver
A Cessna/Robertson 337 was departing from a 1600-foot grass airstrip under visual flight rules (VFR) conditions. Gusting headwinds estimated at 15 knots were present. At the midpoint of the runway, the aircraft executed a steep climbing left turn. After approximately 180 degrees of turn, the aircraft stalled.
Stall and Descent
The nose of the aircraft dropped, and it descended vertically to the ground. Witnesses estimated the maximum height gained during the climb was between 100 and 250 feet above ground level (AGL). They described the engine noise as loud and constant from the start of the takeoff until the crash.
Accident Location
The aircraft came to rest approximately 400 feet west of the runway midpoint on level terrain.