Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman David Smith and Patrolman Lowell Howard were killed in an airplane accident while performing an aerial speed enforcement operation above Route 550 (modern-day Route 516) near the entrance to Farmington Lake. After the operation ended, the officers radioed that they were going to fly over the enforcement zone one last time. As they did so one of the aircraft wheels struck a powerline, causing the Cessna R172E to strike the ground. Both officers were killed instantly. Patrolman Smith had served with the New Mexico State Police for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-29EE695A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Smith gave the New Mexico State Police 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Mexico. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman David M. Smith is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NM, 59 of 193 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.6% of this state's fallen.
At New Mexico State Police, 18 of 29 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 62.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David M. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How David M. Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. David M. Smith is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from New Mexico State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
