Fairchild SA-226T accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 26, 1993
On May 26, 1993 at about 3:14 am local time, a Fairchild SA-226T, registered N241DT, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico (Santa Fe Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED CIRCLING APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT AND A LACK OF VISUAL REFERENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1993 · about 3:14 am local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · Santa Fe Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA-226T · all SA-226Ts on the register
- Registration
- N241DT · no longer on the register · serial T242
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAINING FLIGHT WAS TO CONDUCT PART 135 CHECKRIDES FOR A PILOT-IN=COMMAND AND A SECOND=IN=COMMAND UPON COMPLETION OF THE CREW'S TRAINING. THE CHECKRIDE WAS BEING OBSERVED BY A FAA INSPECTOR SEATED IN THE CABIN. AFTER COMPLETING AN ILS APPROACH TO RWY 2, THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED TO CIRCLE TO LAND ON RWY 15. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED OVERFLYING RWY 15 AND LINED UP FOR RWY 20. THE TOWER ADVISED THE PILOT THAT HE WAS LINED UP FOR RWY 20, AND WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO LAND ON EITHER RWY 15 OR RWY 20. THE PILOT OPTED FOR RWY 15 AND WAS CLEARED TO A RIGHT DOWNWIND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A HILL AT THE 6,870-FT LEVEL NEAR THE CREST, APROX 5 MI WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PUBLISHED CIRCLING MDA FOR THE ILS RWY 2 APCH IS 6,860 FT. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED ABOUT 9 MI FROM THE CITY, AND SEVERAL LOCAL PILOTS REPORTED A TOTAL LACK OF VISUAL REFERENCE IN THAT SEGMENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,125 hours in all; 3,550 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,677 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 2, 1992; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-3U (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 2:30 am
- Runway 15, 6,304 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 am from SAF, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.