Howard Super Ventura (Howard 500)

Lonnie Russell Leasing & Rental

Operator:

Registration:

N127LR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mobile - Key Largo

MSN:

500-103

YOM:

1943

Location:

Key Largo-Ocean Reef

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12322

Captain / Total hours on type:

301.00

Circumstances:

Directional control was lost after touchdown at Key Largo-Ocean Reef Airport. The twin engine airplane ground looped and came to rest. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Ground loop during landing roll after the pilot-in-command failed to maintain directional control due to a poorly maintained runway surface.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard 500 in Pawhuska

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1977 at 1120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Intercontinental Oil Company

Operator:

Registration:

N44HH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Houston - Pawhuska

MSN:

500-115

YOM:

1943

Location:

Pawhuska

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8950

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown on a wet and short runway 17/35, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, hit obstacles and came to rest in flames. All four occupants were injured, three of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Overshoot and crashed on object following improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged distance and speed,
- Selected wrong runway relative to existing wind,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Donwind,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Ran off end of runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard Super Ventura in Egg Harbor: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1975 at 1032 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N234YU

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Middletown - Atlantic City

MSN:

5283

YOM:

1943

Location:

Atlantic City-Pomona

New Jersey

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2543

Captain / Total hours on type:

965.00

Circumstances:

While descending to Atlantic City-Pomona Airport, the crew completed a 350° turn to join the approach path when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed in flames in Egg Harbor, few miles from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Failed to maintain flying speed on initial approach. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Crashed in steep nose down attitude during a 350° turn heading change to intercept localizer.

Final Report:

Crassh of an Howard 350 in Philadelphia

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1972 at 1127 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Mar Pon Inc.

Registration:

N361MC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Newark – Philadelphia

MSN:

5275

YOM:

1943

Location:

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3768

Captain / Total hours on type:

68.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Philadelphia-Intl Airport, the crew inadvertently retracted the gear. The twin engine airplane sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by a post crash fire that was caused by the rupture of a fuel tank in the left wing.

Probable cause:

The pilot inadvertently retracted the gear after landing. Left wing tank ruptured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard Super Ventura in Austin

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1972 at 0923 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Beta Leasing

Registration:

N446DD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Laredo - Dallas

MSN:

5696

YOM:

1943

Location:

Austin-Robert Mueller

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

20470

Captain / Total hours on type:

308.00

Circumstances:

En route from Laredo to Dallas, one of the engine lost power due to oil exhaustion. The pilot was cleared to divert to Austin-Robert Mueller Airport but following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft was not properly aligned. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane suffered hydroplaning then veered off runway and came to rest. All three occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

In-flight engine failure or malfunction. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Oil exhaustion, engine lubrication system,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Wet runway,
- Rain,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Not aligned with runway,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Cause of oil exhaustion not determined,
- Annual maintenance check performed the day before the accident,
- Other runway available,
- Wrong switch used for wipers.

Final Report:

Crash of an Howard Eldorado 700 in Philadelphia

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1971 at 0922 LT

Type of aircraft:

Youngstown Cartage Company

Operator:

Registration:

N25YC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Reading – Philadelphia

MSN:

5598

YOM:

1943

Location:

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

19000

Captain / Total hours on type:

400.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Philadelphia International Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls and turbulences. On short final, the captain decided to make a go-around when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew who descended below MDA while encountering severe turbulences and heavy rain from a thunderstorm cell. The weather was slightly worse than forecast.

Final Report:

Crash of an Howard 350 in Miami

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1970 at 2018 LT

Type of aircraft:

Aviation Equipment Corporation of America

Operator:

Registration:

N350Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brooksville - Miami

MSN:

5892

YOM:

1943

Location:

Miami-Opa Locka

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7600

Captain / Total hours on type:

211.00

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful positioning flight from Brooksville-Hernando County Airport, the crew started the approach to Miami-Opa Locka Airport. The twin engine airplane landed on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. Both crew members escaped without injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. The crew reported that the gear was lowered prior to touchdown while the gear handle was found in up position.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard 500 in Charleston

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1969 at 1948 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N320L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Charleston-Yaeger (Kanawha)

Schedule:

Washington DC – Dallas

MSN:

500-117

YOM:

1943

Location:

West Virginia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7053

Captain / Total hours on type:

289.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, en route from Washington-Dulles Airport to Dallas, the crew encountered technical problems with the right engine. Decision was taken to shut down the engine and to feather the propeller. The crew was then cleared to divert to Charleston-Kanawha Airport for an emergency landing. During the final approach, the pilot supervisor interfered verbally in the process and the airplane landed 3,000 feet down the runway 23 which is 5,600 feet long. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in flames on a dirt bank. All seven occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the powerplant failure could not be determined. However, it was reported that the pilot-in-command misjudged distance and speed upon landing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard 500 in Gaylord

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1969 at 1707 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N3403

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

5249

YOM:

1943

Location:

Gaylord

Michigan

Country:

Region: