What happened
During a nighttime departure from Runway 26L at Chesterfield-Spirit of St Louis Airport, a twin engine airplane began a right-hand turn. After reaching an altitude of approximately 900 feet, the pilot attempted to execute a circuit to return to the departure runway.
While performing the approach, the aircraft became unstable and lost control. The plane subsequently struck an open field, where the impact resulted in a post-crash fire. There was one fatality resulting from the accident, as the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent during the approach phase.
- The impact with the ground led to a significant post-crash fire.