# Accident 20260317005219A: Aero Commander 500-B, Chesterfield, MO, March 17, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 2026, 00:24 local time
- Place: Chesterfield, MO
- Airport: Spirit Of St Louis
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ZJWA
- Location: 38.6620° N, 90.6319° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6620&lon=-90.6319&mi=10
- Aircraft: N444CA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N444CA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 500-B (registry code 0141106, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500-B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260317005219A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRMAN DEPARTED RUNWAY 26L AT KSUS ON A PART 135 CARGO FLIGHT. AFTER ROTATION, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP ABRUPTLY, CONSISTENT WITH AN APPARENT PITCH CONTROL PROBLEM. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO RUNWAY 26L WITH A RIGHT CIRCLE APPROACH. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT ERRATIC PITCH OSCILLATIONS, CORROLATED WITH ABNORMAL FLUCTUATIONS IN ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. CONTROL WAS LOST DURING THE TURN FROM RIGHT BASE TO FINAL, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN AT A HIGH ANGLE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING POST CRASH FIRE. ROOT CAUSE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA140), Mar 17, 2026: Aero Commander 500-B (N444CA), Chesterfield, MO, destroyed, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N444CA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20120117000609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120117000609I), Jan 17, 2012: Aero Commander 500-B (N444CA), Eden Prairie, MN, No damage. During climb from fcm the pilot noticed RPM drop for the left engine followed by other guages for the left side also dropping. Minneapolis approach was…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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