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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2026 · about 5:24 am local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Chesterfield, Missouri · Spirit of St. Louis · cases near this airport · 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N444CA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aero Commander 500 163 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aero Commander 709 aircraft on the register
- Spirit Of St. Louis Airport · nearest airport
- New Century Aircenter Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Missouri 1,640 since 1982 · 219 in the last ten years
- Missouri 5,823 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26FA140.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.