Luxair Flight 9642
LX-LGB, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 2000 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 6 November 2002 |
| Summary | Pilot error aggravated by inclement weather and in-flight thrust reverse following by Technical issues |
| Site | |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Fokker 50 |
| Operator | Luxair |
| IATA flight No. | LG9642 |
| ICAO flight No. | LGL9642 |
| Call sign | LUXAIR 9642 |
| Registration | LX-LGB |
| Flight origin | Berlin Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, Germany |
| Destination | Luxembourg Findel Airport, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg |
| Occupants | 22 |
| Passengers | 19 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 20 |
| Injuries | 2 |
| Survivors | 2 |
Luxair Flight 9642 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Berlin Tempelhof Airport, Germany, to Luxembourg Findel Airport, Luxembourg, operated by Luxembourg's national airline Luxair. On 6 November 2002, the Fokker 50 operating the flight lost control and crashed onto a field during an attempted landing at the airport. Out of 22 passengers and crew members on board, only two people survived. The crash is the deadliest aviation disaster to occur in Luxembourg and the only fatal accident in Luxair's history.
Luxembourg's Administration for Technical Investigations (AET) concluded that the crash was caused by pilot error. The crew accepted the approach clearance given by ATC even though they were not fully prepared for landing. The crew then improvised in order to override a safety feature preventing the propellers from entering the reverse pitch in flight, leading to a loss of control.
The result of the investigation highlighted the possible safety risk regarding the protection system against an accidental deployment of reverse pitch in turboprops during mid-flight, prompting Fokker to issue a mandatory modification on the safety feature.