Aero Commander 500-B accident near Chesterfield, Missouri, March 17, 2026
On March 17, 2026 at about 5:24 am local time, a 1964 Aero Commander 500-B, registered N444CA, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Chesterfield, Missouri (Spirit Of St. Louis airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2026 · about 5:24 am local time
- Place
- Chesterfield, Missouri · Spirit Of St. Louis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500-B, built 1964 · all 500-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N444CA · registry record · serial 1458-162
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 17, 2026, about 0024 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 500-B airplane, N444CA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chesterfield, Missouri. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight. Preliminary ADS-B data revealed that the airplane departed from runway 26L at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), Chesterfield, Missouri, about 0021:51. The airplane subsequently entered a modified right traffic pattern for the departure runway. The airplane altitudes varied from about 500 ft msl to 850 ft msl during that time. The final data point was recorded at 0023:57. The accident site was located about 46 ft southwest of the final data point. Figure 1 – Accident flight (Preliminary ADS-B data) The airplane came to rest upright about 1,696 ft east of the runway 26L arrival threshold, and about 52 ft north of the runway centerline. The airframe structural components – fuselage, wings, empennage, and engines – were in position relative to a structurally intact airplane. A postimpact fire ensued and consumed the inboard portion of the left wing, the entire right wing, and a majority of the fuselage. The right horizontal stabilizer and right side of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged by the fire. Figure 2 – Accident site looking west (NTSB photo) Figure 3 – Accident site looking east (NTSB photo) Two ground depressions immediately east of the airplane were consistent with the landing gear being extended at the time of impact. An area of burned vegetation extended about 300 ft from the wreckage and was about 50 ft wide. Figure 4 – Airplane wreckage at accident site (NTSB photo) The investigation is on-going at this time.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35,712 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 16, 2026; 105 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Central Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: SUS Chesterfield MO at 5:22 am
- Destination: IXD New Century KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26L, 7,468 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSUS 170554Z AUTO 28011KT 10SM CLR M06/M13 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP227 T10611133 11039 21061 400111067 55001 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26FA140.