Amateur-built 337A accident near Eliza Island, Washington, October 2, 1988
On October 2, 1988 at about 1:40 am local time, a amateur-built 337A, registered N6314F, was destroyed in an accident near Eliza Island, Washington (Eliza airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1988 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Eliza Island, Washington · Eliza · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 337A
- Registration
- N6314F · no longer on the register · serial 337-0314
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS CESSNA/ROBERTSON 337 WAS DEPARTING FROM A 1600 FOOT GRASS STRIP IN VFR CONDITIONS. THERE WERE GUSTING HEAD WINDS ESTIMATED AT 15 KNOTS. AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT MADE A STEEP CLIMBING LEFT TURN, STALLING AFTER ABOUT 180 DEGREES OF TURN. THE ACFT NOSE DROPPED AND THE ACFT DESCENDED VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND. WITNESSES ESTIMATED THE MAX HEIGHT GAINED WAS FROM 100-250 FT AGL. THEY DESCRIBED THE ENG NOISE AS LOUD AND CONSTANT FROM TAKEOFF UNTIL THE CRASH. THE ACFT CAME TO REST ABOUT 400 FT WEST OF THE RWY MIDPOINT IN LEVEL TERRAIN.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 591 hours in all; 366 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 511 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,243 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.