Kansan identified as fatal New Mexico plane crash victim; investigation ongoing
New Mexico authorities have confirmed that 63-year-old Deborah Rhinesmith of Kansas was the passenger in the single-engine aircraft headed from Wichita that crashed onto a golf course in Albuquerque.
Rhinesmith died as a result of the crash, and another person was hospitalized in critical condition.
The incident, which is being reported as an accident by the Federal Aviation Administration, happened around 11:37 a.m. after the plane attempted to make an emergency landing on Los Altos Golf Course, according to New Mexico State Police. The aircraft had experienced engine issues, the FAA report said.
Rhinesmith and another person were taken to a hospital where Rhinesmith was pronounced dead. The other person is still in the hospital, police said.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the crash and will be posted on the agency’s publication dashboard and on its @ntsb_newsroom account on X.
A final report, including the probable cause and any contributing factors, is expected in 12 to 24 months. Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to email witness@ntsb.gov.
This story was originally published March 9, 2026 at 4:01 PM.
CORRECTION: This report has been updated to reflect new information from the FAA that Deborah Rhinesmith was a passenger in the plane, not the pilot.
