Published online Midwest Flyer Magazine – February/March 2021
ARDEN HILLS, MINN. – The pilot of a Bellanca Viking made an emergency landing on I-35W at approximately 9:30 p.m. on December 2, 2020 in the Twin Cities suburb of Arden Hills, when the aircraft apparently experienced engine problems. There were no injuries reported, and the aircraft and one vehicle were damaged in the incident.
The pilot was Craig Gifford, 52, of Minneapolis. Gifford holds a commercial pilot certificate, has 4500 hours of flight experience, and was a member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team in 2017 and 2019. There was one passenger onboard the aircraft with Gifford.
The emergency landing was captured on a Minnesota Department of Transportation camera as seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3fR04K-474