Ir-Rabat | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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.

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X in Ir-Rabat: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1946 at 1115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 440 Wellington X

Operator:

Registration:

HE274

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training sortie, simulating an aerial attack with a RAF Spitfire. While cruising at a height between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, the aircraft banked 20° to the left then dove into the ground and crashed in the center of the city. The aircraft exploded on impact and damages on ground were so heavy with several houses destroyed. All four crew members were killed plus 16 people on the ground. Several others were injured, some of them seriously.

Probable cause:

The loss of control was attributed to strong smoke spread in the cockpit due to a leak on a hydraulic line, intoxicating the crew that was unable to maintain a directional control of the aircraft and could not send any distress call.