John Farley
You may be right. The picture does not necessarily confirm that the vortex has detached from the top of the wing and become a free vortex. Unless I am much mistaken, though, it has drifted inboard significantly from the leading edge, beginning near the wing root, which I believe would start to produce stagnation zones and reverse flow areas - part of, as you say, a large and complex vortex. Not a major problem as far as lift is concerned, but definitely, I would have thought, degrading its Cl below the theoretical maximum.
I do agree with your analysis of the final dramatic altitude gain of the accident flight and very much with your dislike of the term "stall" which I suppose is what prompted my original post to the R&N forum.
Regards,
[Edited for typo]
[ 04 September 2001: Message edited by: Covenant ]