Pilot Identified In Fatal Plane Crash at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Mo.

CHESTERFIELD, MO. - The pilot killed in a plane crash at Spirit of St. Louis Airport at 18270 Edison Avenue in Chesterfield, Missouri, has been identified as Edward Ruhbeck, 65, of St. Louis, according to St. Louis County officials.

St. Louis County said Tuesday, March 17, 2026, that Ruhbeck, of the 11300 block of Larimore Road in St. Louis, Missouri, 63138, died after a crash that occurred at the airport early March 17. The St. Louis County Police Department Metro Air Support Unit, Spirit of St. Louis Airport Detail, had been investigating the crash, but the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, the county said.

Just after 3 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the airport detail was notified of a possible downed plane in the area, police said. Officers began a search and located a crash site at the east end of the south airport runway.

The Aero Commander 500B aircraft owned by Kansas City-based charter company Central Air Southwest took off around 12:20 a.m. The aircraft was discovered about three hours after the crash notification. Federal records state that Ruhbeck had worked as an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration.

A preliminary investigation indicates the pilot departed from Spirit of St. Louis Airport overnight and at some point attempted to return to the airport, police said.

The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said there was no indication that any other occupants were on board.

“This is an active investigation, and preliminary information could change,” the county said. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified and will conduct the follow-up investigation.

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