Malta | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Luqa Airport on a short positioning flight to the near airport of Hal Far. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane stalled and crashed. All three crew members were injured.

Crash of a Fairey IIIF at RAF Hal Far: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Registration:

S1860

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hal Far - Hal Far

MSN:

F.1687

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to RAF Hal Far following a local training sortie. For unknown reasons, the airplane landed hard. Upon impact, the undercarriage was torn off and the airplane went out of control. It veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. Both crew members were injured but one died from his injuries four days later.
Crew:
F/Lt Thomas Henry Perry-Keene, †
LAC Leslie Charles Tite.

Crash of a Fairey IIIF off Marsa Scirocco: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Registration:

S1491

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

HMS Courageous - HMS Courageous

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After being catapulted from HMS Courageous, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Marsa Scirocco. A crew member was killed and a second was rescued.

Crash of a CMASA Wal Jupiter VIII/R Cabina off Valetta

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1932

Type of aircraft:

CMASA Wal

Operator:

Registration:

I-AZEA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rome – Tripoli

MSN:

112

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Valetta, an engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing off the Maltese coast. All nine occupants were rescued and later embarked on the destroyer named 'Brillant'. The aircraft was towed but considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Fairey IIID off Hal Far AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1930

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Registration:

N9730

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Hal Far AFB - Hal Far AFB

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing on sea off Hal Bar, the aircraft collided with a dinghy and crashed. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fairey IIID off Birżebbuġa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1930

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Registration:

S1078

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Hal Far AFB - Hal Far AFB

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from RAF Hal Far, while climbing to 3,000 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea off Birżebbuġa. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Reginald Frederick Francis,
LAC Charles Drewery Harris.