A detailed inspection of the two-seater Tecnam P92J that crash landed in the limits of Luqa on Thursday is underway by the Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation and the Department of Civil Aviation.
Investigations yesterday focused on the aircraft's engine which reportedly failed as the light aircraft was approaching the runway for landing.
Captain Nigel James Dunkerley, DCA flight examiner and operations manager of the European Pilot Academy, said that an initial inspection by the Bureau and the DCA yielded no visible anomalies.
Two pilots, Anatole Vella Gera and Swiss national Melina Hunziker, escaped the crash with slight injuries and walked out of the aircraft after the crash at about 1.10 p.m. The plane ended up overturned in a field, a few metres from a farmhouse.
Capt. Dunkerley said the aircraft, primarily a training plane, was rented out for a skill test by Ms Hunziker who already holds a commercial pilot licence and was undergoing the test in order to revalidate her single engine piston class rating.
Mr Vella Gera was the DCA's flight examiner accompanying Ms Hunziker. Mr Vella Gera is a former employee of the European Pilot Academy and was very familiar with the aircraft involved in the crash landing.
"Three quarters into a routine examination - in aviation terms called a skill test - the aircraft, which was on final approach to land on runway 24, experienced loss of power.
"Considering the position, time and altitude to spare, Mr Vella Gera took over controls and had no more than 10 seconds to decide on the safety of Ms Hunziker, the safety of the persons below, his personal safety and, finally, securing the aircraft to minimise any possible hazardous occurrence after landing," Capt. Dunkerley said.
He explained that Mr Vella Gera reacted with "lighting speed, correct judgement and was in control of the aircraft at all times".
A field was chosen as the proper and safest landing zone within the reachable gliding area available.
Unfortunately, the rain that fell 48 hours prior contributed to more damage being done to the aircraft as, on initial touchdown, the front nose wheel ploughed through the relatively soft soil and the plane cart-wheeled forward landing on its back. "But, having said so, this, in turn, also slowed down the momentum of the impact," he said.
The aircraft is believed to be a total write off, Capt. Dunkerley said, adding that there was no damage of any sort to the internal cockpit structure.
The aircraft was dismantled on the spot and towed away for a more thorough inspection by the Bureau of Air Accident Investigation and the DCA.
In parallel, the European Pilot Academy is conducting it own internal investigation to see whether any changes to or additional safety procedures are required to the already stringent ones in place, Capt. Dunkerley said.
The government said the investigation by the Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation is being carried out under the provisions of the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations, 2002.