Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Alexandria

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1949
Registration:
ZS-AYB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Geneva – Luqa – Cairo
MSN:
19584
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Approaching Luqa Airport in Malta, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to continue to Cairo directly. On approach to the Egyptian coast, fuel reserve were too low and the captain decided to divert to Alexandria. On final, the aircraft stalled (likely due to a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion) and crashed into the Alexandria harbor, near the suburb of Ras-el-Tin. All 30 occupants were rescued (few of them were slightly injured) while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III on Montecristo Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TX269
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Luqa - Saint Mawgan
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 1,300 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located on the Island of Montecristo. All seven crew members were killed. They were performing a flight from Malta-Luqa to RAF Newquay-Saint Mawgain, Cornwall.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK Dakota IV near Cape Sicié: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1948 at 0845 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGKN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Luqa – Marseille – London
MSN:
14984/26429
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Marseille-Marignane Airport in foggy conditions. The aircraft hit a cliff located near Cape Sicié, south of Toulon. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Northwood: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1948 at 1503 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW248
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa - Northolt
MSN:
MW248
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Malta-Luqa Airport bound for RAF Northolt with four passengers and a crew of three on board. While approaching the London area, the crew encountered low visibility due to poor weather conditions. The crew was cleared to descent to 3,000 feet when the aircraft collided with a Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) DC-6 registered SE-BDA. Inbound from Amsterdam, this second aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and a crew of 7. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Northwood, about 4 miles north of RAF Northolt. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 39 people were killed. Among the passenger of the York was Sir Gerard Edward James, High Commissioner in Malaysia for Her Majesty the Queen of England.
Probable cause:
The cause of the loss must in all probability be found in the field of human fallibility on the part of those responsible for the control of the aircraft from the ground or the flight of the aircraft in the air. Investigators found that the separation of 500 feet in force in the Northolt area, provided an inadequate margin of safety and recommended that it should be increased to 1,000 feet for the Metropolitan Control Zone. The report also discussed the standard setting for altimeters (known as QFF) that had been introduced in May 1948 for aircraft above 1,500 feet within control zones, and that any error in setting the barometric pressure of one millibar gave an error of 28 feet.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Verquières: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF474
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Northolt – Luqa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Prior to departure, the crew was briefed about the poor weather conditions in south of France and that he should avoid this area. While cruising southeast of Avignon, the aircraft went through a low pressure zone with cumulonimbus. It encountered severe turbulences, lost two engines and its tail, went into a dive and crashed in a field in Verquières. All 11 occupants were killed. It appears that few elements of the aircraft broke off due to severe turbulences that exceeded their certification.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Luqa

Date & Time: May 24, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW190
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Northolt – Luqa
MSN:
MW190
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Luqa Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit a stone pile located in a stone-pit. The undercarriage were partially sheared off and the aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. For unknown reason, the crew continued the final approach at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK Dakota IV in Luqa

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGKD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa - London
MSN:
14150/25595
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Luqa

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW268
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Northolt – Luqa
MSN:
MW268
YOM:
1946
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Luqa Airport, the aircraft was too low and hit a stone wall located in a stone-pit short of runway. The undercarriage were sheared off and the aircraft belly landed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off. For unknown reason, the crew was completing the final approach at a too low altitude.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-115L in Luqa

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1946 at 1632 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-AGBH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa – Southampton – London
MSN:
1584
YOM:
1936
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from Luqa Airfield, the twin engine aircraft swung on runway, went out of control and eventually came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The reason of the occurrence remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Luqa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGHT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa – Londres
MSN:
10103
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the captain informed ATC that the left engine failed and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. During the last turn, the right engine failed as well. The pilot nosed down for an immediate landing when the aircraft plunged into the earth and hit violently the runway surface. It bounced, went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest in flames. A crew member was killed while four others were injured.
Probable cause:
Immediately after rotation, the crew modified the position of the fuel selector on auxiliary tanks that were insufficiently filled. It resulted an almost simultaneous failure of both engines due to fuel starvation.