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6 fatalities

Nighttime Mountain Collision in Santa Fe Region (N417DR)

Santa Fe, United States of AmericaFlight

On March 26, 1978, a Cessna 411 (registration N417DR) operated by James E. Ferguson was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Fe, United States of America in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain caused by inadequate preflight preparation and improper in-flight decisions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary report: the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive (1962-1981)Updated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft struck a mountain slope at 11,700 feet during a night flight in the Santa Fe region. The wreckage and six fatalities were discovered a week later on April 2.

Incident Overview and Discovery Details During a nighttime flight, a twin-engine aircraft collided with the slope of a mountain in the Santa Fe region. The aircraft was operating at an altitude of 11,700 feet at the time of the impact. The wreckage and the remains of all six individuals on board were not immediately located. Search efforts eventually recovered the debris and the six bodies one week after the incident, on April 2. The source does not specify the exact date of the initial collision, the aircraft's registration, the operating airline, or the specific geographic coordinates of the mountain.

Probable cause

Controlled flight into terrain caused by inadequate preflight preparation and improper in-flight decisions.
Controlled flight into terrain

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