Incident
Sergeant Andy Tingwall died following a police helicopter crash on a mountainside near Lake Katherine, New Mexico. He and a police observer had just taken off after rescuing a stranded hiker when the helicopter struck the mountainside and crashed.
Despite being severely injured, the observer was able to hike from the area the following morning and was located by a rescue party. An intense search was initiated but rescuers had difficulty reaching the crash site due to weather and terrain.
The bodies of Sergeant Tingwall and the hiker were located two days later when rescuers were able to reach the site.
Sergeant Tingwall was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the New Mexico State Police for 13 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-9656EDEC- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Andrew. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Tingwall gave the New Mexico State Police 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Mexico. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Andrew Francis Tingwall served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Andrew Francis Tingwall 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. Andrew Francis Tingwall's cause is highlighted.
How Andrew Francis Tingwall Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Andrew Francis Tingwall is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from New Mexico State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















