What happened
During an attempt to depart from a sandy beach area at Big Creek, a Fairchild C-119 failed to reach necessary lift-off speeds. As the aircraft attempted to execute a right-hand turn along the shoreline, it began sliding sideways due to insufficient airspeed and the influence of wind. The crew attempted to stabilize the plane and gain altitude, but the momentum of the turn pushed the aircraft toward the water.
The aircraft traveled approximately a quarter mile into the Bering Sea before stalling and impacting the surface. The impact resulted in the destruction of the airframe, with the cockpit section becoming submerged under roughly 10 feet of water beneath the fuselage. Despite the severity of the crash, there was no fire. All five occupants sustained injuries during the accident but survived the impact. Following the crash, the survivors were airlifted to Anchorage for medical treatment.
Findings
The aircraft was unable to maintain enough airspeed to complete the necessary turning maneuver, causing it to drift into the sea.