CEN26FA140

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.