Brendan Lillis, author of Atlin’s Anguish: Bush Pilot Theresa Bond and the Crash of Taku Air Flight 2653, will be signing copies of his book in Vernon, Saturday.
Atlin’s Anguish is the story of Lillis’ sister, Theresa Bond, and the terrible accident that changed her life forever.
On Sept. 27, 1986, Bond took her beloved de Havilland Beaver out on a routine flight with five passengers, leaving from Atlin, B.C.
The Taku Air passenger list that day included local politician Al Passarell, his wife, and three of Atlin’s most prominent citizens, including larger-than-life Atlin Inn owner Joe Florence.
After an uneventful 80 minutes, the plane crossed the edge of Dease Lake, turned south and descended for landing. But something went tragically wrong in those last few minutes of Flight 2653. According to eyewitnesses, the Beaver nose-dived into the lake at full cruising speed. As the plane sank into the icy depths of the lake, only pilot Bond managed to escape.
All five passengers drowned, and the small town of Atlin was torn apart by the tragedy.
Atlin’s Anguish is a brother’s dedicated and loving journey to understanding what happened that day on Dease Lake.
Was it simply a lack of experience that caused Bond to lose control at such a crucial moment, or were there other circumstances that led to the crash of Flight 2653?
Lillis will be at the Vernon Coles bookstore in the Village Green Centre to sign copes of Atlin’s Anguish, Saturday, June 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.
