Rudisaile v. Hawk Aviation, Inc.

OPINION

McMANUS, Senior Justice.

Barbara J. Rudisaile brought a wrongful death action against Hawk Aviation, Inc., for the death of her husband. The trial court sitting without a jury found for plaintiff and awarded $235,000.00 in damages. Defendant appealed and the Court of Appeals reversed. We granted plaintiff’s petition for a writ of certiorari and now reverse the Court of Appeals.

This action arose from an airplane accident which occurred on September 30, 1974 near Farmington, New Mexico. Defendant owned and operated a FAA certified field operation at the Farmington Municipal Airport.…