Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Date: | Saturday 18 February 1956 |
Time: | 12:23 UTC |
Type: | Avro 685 York C.1 |
Operator: | Scottish Airlines |
Registration: | G-ANSY |
MSN: | |
First flight: | 1945 |
Engines: | 4 Rolls-Royce Merlin |
Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 45 / Occupants: 45 |
Total: | Fatalities: 50 / Occupants: 50 |
Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
Location: | 3,5 km (2.2 mls) S of Malta-Luqa Airport (MLA) ( Malta)
|
Phase: | En route (ENR) |
Nature: | Int'l Non Scheduled Passenger |
Departure airport: | Malta-Luqa Airport (MLA/LMML), Malta |
Destination airport: | London-Stansted Airport (STN/EGSS), United Kingdom |
Narrative:Avro York G-ANSY took off from Malta-Luqa Airport at 12:21 for a flight to London Stansted. Shortly after becoming airborne the boost enrichment capsule in the carburetor of the no. 1 engine failed, causing a fire in the engine. It is presumed that the engine stopped producing power after 30 seconds of flight. The propeller was not feathered as the aircraft slowly climbed to 700-800 feet amsl (300-400 feet agl) with a 'crabbing' or 'yawing' motion to the left. Shortly after retracting the flaps, while still in a nose up attitude at very low flying speed, the aircraft stalled and dove to the ground near the town of Zurrieq.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "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 judgement of the pilot."
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest No.8, Circular 54-AN/49 (41-49)
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Malta-Luqa Airport to London-Stansted Airport as the crow flies is 2094 km (1309 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.