Santa Fe homeowner sues over plane crash

SANTA FE, NM — About a year after a plane crashed into a home shortly after takeoff from Santa Fe Airport, the homeowner has filed a lawsuit.

The homeowner is suing the company that co-owned the plane. She said the crash not only destroyed her home but also contaminated the land and the neighboring property where her parents lived. She added that the crash released noxious and toxic fumes.

On July 18, 2023, at approximately 9:03 a.m., 72-year-old Randolph Sherman took off from Santa Fe Regional Airport in a twin-engine Cessna back to Santa Monica, California. Within two minutes, Sherman notified air traffic control that one of his engines had failed.

Shortly afterwards, his small plane crashed into a nearby house. Fortunately, no one was home at the time of the crash.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene a few minutes later. NMSP learned of the accident at around 9:20 a.m.

The coroner's office pronounced Sherman dead at the scene.