Luqa - Luqa

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.

Flight / Schedule

Luqa - Luqa

Aircraft

Vickers Valetta

Registration

VX575

Year of Manufacture

1950

Date

December 16, 1953 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Ir-Rabat All Malta

Region

Europe • Malta

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On December 16, 1953 at 12:00 AM, Luqa - Luqa experienced a crash involving Vickers Valetta, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Ir-Rabat All Malta.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 20.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration VX575, year of manufacture 1950.

Fatalities

Total

1

Crew

1

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

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.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

4

Fatality Rate

20.0%

Known people on board: 5

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Luqa - Luqa

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Europe • Malta

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Vickers Valetta

Registration

VX575

Year of Manufacture

1950

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