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Crash of a Swearingen SA227AT Expediter in Luqa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 2016 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N577MX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
MSN:
AT-577
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
LXC77
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
3511
Captain / Total hours on type:
1229.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
21806
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2304
Aircraft flight hours:
9261
Aircraft flight cycles:
3503
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea, carrying a crew of two and three members of the French Ministry of Defense. Shortly after takeoff from runway 13, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft banked to the right, hit a perimeter fence and crashed in a huge explosion on the Triq Carmelo Caruana Street. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All five occupants were killed. It was previously reported that the flight was performed on behalf of the EU Frontex Program but this was later denied by the Border Agency. The presence of all three French Officers was confirmed by the French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian. It was also confirmed by the Government of Malta that this kind of flight was performed by the French Customs since five months, an official operation of surveillance to identify human traffic and narcotics routes in the Mediterranean Sea.
Probable cause:
Investigations show that a technical malfunction was the cause of the accident. This malfunction probably originated in the specific modifications of the aircraft and in the application of an inappropriate maintenance to these modifications.
Three scenarios can be envisaged:
- Rupture of the HF antenna, which then wrapped around the elevator control surface;
- Inadvertent activation of the SAS, countered by the pilot;
- Jamming of the elevator due to a technical failure in the flight control line.
Given the condition of the wreckage and the absence of witness reports from the crew, only a flight data recorder could have enabled the BEA-É to confirm one of these hypothesis. However, in consideration of the factors detailed in the analysis, the hypothesis of damage to a component of the elevator control line remains the most plausible explanation.
Final Report:

Ground fire of a Boeing 737-266 in Luqa: 60 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1985 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AYH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Athens - Cairo
MSN:
21191
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
MS648
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
92
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
60
Circumstances:
On November 23, at 19:35 the EgyptAir Boeing 737 was hijacked by 3 men. The Egyptian security guard who was onboard shot and killed one of the hijackers before being shot and wounded himself, along with two flight attendants. Although the hijackers demanded to be flown to Tunisia or Libya, they agreed to land at Malta for refueling were it landed at 21:15. At Malta, the two wounded cabin crew members were released, along with 11 women. Because Maltese authorities refused to refuel the plane unless all passengers were released, the hijackers threatened to kill a passenger every 10 minutes. A total of 5 additional people were shot and thrown off the aircraft, two of them were killed. After 22 hours of negotiation the plane was stormed by Egyptian forces. In the fight which followed hand grenades were thrown into the passenger cabin, causing a fire.
Probable cause:
Aircraft hijacked and then partially destroyed by grenade explosion and fire arms.

Crash of a Vickers 701 Viscount in Luqa

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMNY
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London – Luqa
MSN:
6
YOM:
1953
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Viscount was taxiing along the runway after landing when a hydraulic system pressure loss occurred. Wheel brakes and nosewheel steering were inoperative and the plane left the runway, rolling down an area of downslope. Because of the hydraulic system pressure loss an attempt by the pilot to raise the gear, failed. The aircraft came to rest against the control tower. Investigation revealed a fractured pipe line and faulty operation of a non-return valve intended to conserve pressure if there were a pressure loss in the main hydraulic system.
Source:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19600105-0
Probable cause:
Failure of the hydraulic system.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Luqa

Date & Time: May 20, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMUT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Northolt – Luqa
MSN:
MW185
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed long and the touchdown was reported 1,700 feet past the runway threshold. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest after it struck a wall. All three crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK at RAF Hal Far

Date & Time: May 4, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
44-76412
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wheelus - Alconbury
MSN:
15996/32744
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Wheelus AFB (Tripoli) to RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire, the airplane suffered a double engine failure, forcing the crew to divert to RAF Krendi for an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed and came to rest on runway. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Luqa: 50 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1956 at 1323 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ANSY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa – Stansted
MSN:
MW193
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Circumstances:
The aircraft, which had arrived at Malta at 1046LT on the same day, took off from Luqa Aerodrome, Malta on a flight to Stansted, England. The aircraft became airborne about two thirds of the way down the runway and the undercarriage was retracted. About this time black smoke was seen coming from the No. 1 engine. The aircraft instead of turning to starboard as instructed by the Ground Control appeared to drift to port. The port wing dipped steeply and at 1222-23 hours the aircraft nose-dived into the ground on the cliffs near Zurrieq and blew up on impact. The crew of 5 and 45 passengers were all killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the failure of No. 1 engine. However, failure alone did not cause the accident, which was caused by loss of speed and consequent loss of control through an error of judgment of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune MR.1 in Luqa

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WX547
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
MSN:
426-5163
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An undercarriage collapsed on landing at Luqa Airport. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed on landing.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Luqa

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMUM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa – Northolt
MSN:
SET65
YOM:
1947
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing, the engine number four failed to start due to a starter issue. The captain decided to increase speed, hoping to start the engine by windmilling the propeller. When the engine started, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft in a timely manner. The airplane veered off taxiway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest against a small embankment. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
An error of judgement of the pilot, in that he failed to throttle back and apply his brakes in sufficient time to stop the aircraft from rolling forward beyond the end of the runway.

Crash of an Avro 696 Shackleton MR.2 off Gozo Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL794
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew left Luqa Airfield for a training mission consisting of an aerial attack against the submarine HMS Tudor. While completing a turn at low height, the pilot-in-command lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the sea about seven km southwest of Gozo Island, Malta. All ten crew members were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 near Luqa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VX575
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
YOM:
1950
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Luqa Airport on a local training flight, while climbing to a height of 50 feet, the right engine oversped. The pilot elected to shut down the engine and to feather the propeller but was unable to do so. The crew decided to return for a safe landing but was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located 8 km north of the airport and came to rest in flames. The navigator was killed while four other crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
Technical issue on the right engine after takeoff. Propeller oversped, crew unable to feather the propeller and to shot down the engine.