What happened
On March 17, 2026, at approximately 00:24 CDT, an Aero Commander 500-B, registration N444CA, was destroyed following an accident near Chesterfield, Missouri. The aircraft was being operated by Central Airlines Inc. as a Part 135 cargo flight.
According to preliminary ADS-B data, the aircraft departed from runway 26L at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) at approximately 00:21:51. Following takeoff, the airplane entered a modified right traffic pattern for the departure runway, with altitudes fluctuating between 500 ft MSL and 850 ft MSL. The final ADS-B data point was recorded at 00:23:57, with the accident site located approximately 46 ft southwest of that position.
The aircraft came to rest in an upright position about 1,696 ft east of the runway 26L arrival threshold and 52 ft north of the runway centerline. While the fuselage, wings, empennage, and engines remained in position relative to a structurally intact airframe, a post-impact fire occurred. This fire consumed the entire right wing, the inboard portion of the left wing, and a large portion of the fuselage. Damage was also noted on the right horizontal stabilizer and the right side of the vertical stabilizer and rudder.
Two ground depressions found immediately east of the wreckage were consistent with the landing gear being extended during impact. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.