Pilot Killed After Aircraft Crashes Short of Runway at St. Louis Airport

A 65-year-old cargo pilot died early Tuesday morning after his aircraft crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri. Edward Ruhbeck, a former FAA air traffic controller and experienced pilot, was the sole person aboard the Aero Commander 500B when it went down around 3:40 a.m.

What Happened

Video footage obtained by local media showed the aircraft lose altitude almost immediately after departure. Flight tracking data indicates the plane attempted to turn back toward the runway shortly after takeoff before crashing just short of it and bursting into flames on impact.

The airport’s control tower was closed at the time of the crash. The wreckage was not discovered until approximately three hours later. A witness who saw the aircraft in its final moments told local station KSDK the motion looked unusual, describing an up and down movement inconsistent with normal flight.

The NTSB is leading the investigation. The FAA is also involved. Because the crash occurred so close to the airport, aviation experts noted Ruhbeck may never have activated a formal flight plan, which could complicate the investigation’s early stages.

The Pilot

Ruhbeck spent his career in aviation first as an FAA air traffic controller and later as a cargo pilot. Neighbors described him as a quiet, kind person who was deeply involved in flying both professionally and in his personal life.

James Pfaffenback, who had known Ruhbeck since the 1980s, said he regularly monitored weather patterns on his computer and talked about aviation constantly.