Gifford Aviation

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

The aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Hooper Bay, Alaska. The airplane crashed 1,320 feet short of the threshold of runway 13 during an approach in visual meteorological conditions. The airplane was substantially damaged when it crashed onto hard-packed snow and ice about 700 feet from the edge of the Bering Sea. There was no fire. The two pilots and six passengers sustained serious injuries in the accident.

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Upon landing at Dahl Creek, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for few dozen yards before coming to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant

Upon landing at Slave Creek Airport, the twin engine airplane landed hard and bounced. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

On landing at King Salmon Airport, the left engine fire warning sounded. In the meantime, an explosion occurred in the left wing tip. The crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Crashed into the Bering Sea shortly after takeoff from a sand beach at Big Creek. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were injured. Here is the testimony from Jim Larison who was on board to make a documentary for PBS at the time of the accident: The C-119 aircraft was attempting to take off, but the aircraft could not make lift off speed in time to avoid having to turn right along the beach. As the pilot attempted to turn right we began sliding sideways. The farther right we turned the more the wind became a factor. The aircraft could not gain sufficient airspeed but the speed was great enough that we were light on our wheels so could not make the turn either. Centrifugal force drove us sideways toward the sea. The pilots straightened it up and tried to lift off but we did not have sufficient airspeed to make it into the air. We went out into the Bering Sea perhaps a quarter mile before stalling. The aircraft crashed into the sea and was torn to pieces. The cockpit ended up underneath the fuselage under about 10 feet of water. I was trapped in the wreckage under the fuselage. The pilot came back into the aircraft and freed me from the wreckage. There was no fire. There were five people on board. Luckily no fatalities but survivors were airlifted to Anchorage for medical care. Aircraft was eventually pulled out of the sea and now rests at the mouth of Big Creek in a sand dune. Photos James 'Jim' Larson.

Grumman G-21A Goose

While taking off from a lake located near Port Moller, the left wing float stayed in water, causing the seaplane to plunged into water. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was written off.

Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant

On approach to Toksook Bay Airport, the crew encountered whiteout conditions with fog and snow falls. While descending under VFR mode, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a snow covered area located short of runway. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.