Assassination of Howard and Maria Stark

The Assassination of Howard and Maria Stark was an event orchestrated by HYDRA to have the Winter Soldier shoot Howard and Maria Stark dead and make it look like an accidental car crash.

Background
Undercover HYDRA operatives within S.H.I.E.L.D. thought Howard Stark was too much of a threat to their future plans, so they had him and his wife killed.

Assassination
As the Starks were driving one day on Long Island when the Winter Soldier (brainwashed by HYDRA) shot at the car, causing their car to swerve and crash and the two parents to die.

Aftermath
The newspapers report on the passing of the Starks, but no one realizes there was anything sinister to the death. It left their son Tony Stark an orphan.

Since Tony was too young at the time to run Stark Industries, Obadiah Stane was made CEO of the company.

Edwin Jarvis took responsibility for Tony, becoming a father figure to the young man.