Narrative:
The aircraft descended below MDA and encountered severe turbulence and heavy rain from a thunderstorm cell. A go around was attempted but the aircraft impacted terrain.
The aircraft was initially manufactured as a Lockheed PV-1 for the US Navy. After military service it was converted to an executive configuration as a Spartan Ventura and subsequently a Howard Super Ventura. In 1966 it was converted to a Howard 350 and marketed as a Howard Eldorado 700.
PROBABLE CAUSE:
pilot in command - improper ifr operation
FACTORS:
weather - low ceiling
weather - rain
weather - turbulence, associated w/clouds and/or thunderstorms
weather - thunderstorm activity
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 11 September 1971 |
| Time: | 09:22 |
| Type: |  Howard Eldorado 700 |
| Operator: | Youngstown Cartage Co. |
| Registration: | N25YC |
| MSN: | 5598 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near Philadelphia International Airport, PA (PHL) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Reading Municipal Airport/Spaatz Field, PA (RDG/KRDG), United States of America |
| Philadelphia International Airport, PA (PHL/KPHL), United States of America |
The aircraft descended below MDA and encountered severe turbulence and heavy rain from a thunderstorm cell. A go around was attempted but the aircraft impacted terrain.
The aircraft was initially manufactured as a Lockheed PV-1 for the US Navy. After military service it was converted to an executive configuration as a Spartan Ventura and subsequently a Howard Super Ventura. In 1966 it was converted to a Howard 350 and marketed as a Howard Eldorado 700.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE:
pilot in command - improper ifr operation
FACTORS:
weather - low ceiling
weather - rain
weather - turbulence, associated w/clouds and/or thunderstorms
weather - thunderstorm activity
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
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 Reading Municipal Airport/Spaatz Field, PA to Philadelphia International Airport, PA as the crow flies is 83 km (52 miles).
Distance from Reading Municipal Airport/Spaatz Field, PA to Philadelphia International Airport, PA as the crow flies is 83 km (52 miles).
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.
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