Fatal Spirit of St. Louis plane crash details released in NTSB report

The preliminary report provides early information on the March 17 incident that killed pilot Edward Ruhbeck.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:19pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of grey, blue, and gold, with a small, indistinct plane wreckage dwarfed by the vast, stormy sky above.The tragic plane crash at Spirit of St. Louis Airport serves as a sobering reminder of the raw power and unpredictability of the natural world.St. Louis Today

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a fatal plane crash that occurred on March 17 at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The crash killed 65-year-old pilot Edward Ruhbeck of St. Louis. The report details the plane's flight path, impact site, and damage, but does not indicate an explicit reason for the crash, which is still under investigation.

Why it matters

Plane crashes are always concerning events that raise questions about aviation safety and the potential causes behind such tragic incidents. This preliminary NTSB report provides the first official details about what happened during the Spirit of St. Louis crash, which will help inform the ongoing investigation and any potential safety improvements needed at the airport.

The details

According to the NTSB report, Ruhbeck took off from Spirit of St. Louis Airport in an Aero Commander 500 B at 12:21 a.m. on March 17. The aircraft quickly entered a modified right traffic pattern, with altitudes varying from 500 to 850 feet. The final data point was recorded at 12:23:57, and the crash site was found 46 feet southwest of that point. The plane came to rest about 1,700 feet west of the runway's arrival threshold and 52 feet north of the centerline. A fire consumed the entire right wing, most of the fuselage, and part of the left wing after the crash.

  • Ruhbeck took off at 12:21 a.m. on March 17, 2026.
  • The final data point was recorded at 12:23:57 a.m.

The players

Edward Ruhbeck

A 65-year-old pilot from St. Louis who was killed in the plane crash.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

The federal agency that investigates transportation accidents and released the preliminary report on the Spirit of St. Louis plane crash.

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What they’re saying

“He was just one of those guys that was just an all-around good guy. He always offered to help. If you needed help with a fence or anything else, he'd say, 'Just call me!'”

— James Pfaffenback, Ruhbeck's neighbor

What’s next

The NTSB investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the importance of aviation safety and the need for thorough investigations to determine the root causes of plane crashes, in order to implement any necessary changes to prevent similar accidents in the future.