ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Missouri—A pilot died after a cargo plane bound for the Kansas City area crashed Tuesday in Chesterfield, Missouri.
Just after 3a.m., the St. Louis County Police Department Spirit of St. Louis Airport Detail was notified of a possible downed plane in the area, according to a media release from police. Detail officers began a search and located a crash site at the east end of the south airport runway.
Preliminary investigation indicates the pilot, later identified as Edward Ruhbeck, 65, of St. Louis, of an Aero Commander 500-B twin-engine piston aircraft departed from Spirit of St. Louis Airport overnight and at some point, attempted to return to the airport.
Ruhbeck was pronounced deceased at the scene. At this time, there is no indication that any other occupants were on board. A flight plan indicates the aircraft was headed toward New Century AirCenter in Gardner, Kansas.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were notified and will conduct the follow-up investigation.