2025 Copake Mitsubishi MU-2 crash
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 An aerial view of the crash site | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | April 12, 2025 |
| Summary | Crashed shortly before landing; under investigation |
| Site | near Two Town Road in Copake, 10 miles (16 km) from Columbia County Airport, New York, U.S. 42°10′41″N 73°35′52″W / 42.17806°N 73.59778°W |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire |
| Operator | Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC |
| Registration | N635TA |
| Flight origin | Westchester County Airport, Westchester County, New York, U.S. |
| Destination | Columbia County Airport, Columbia County, New York, U.S. |
| Occupants | 6 |
| Passengers | 5 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 6 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On April 12, 2025, a Mitsubishi MU-2 operated by Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC crashed into a field in Copake, New York, United States. The pilot and all five passengers onboard the plane were killed. The aircraft was operating on its second flight of the day.
Background
[edit]Aircraft
[edit]_AN1394200.jpg)
The aircraft was a fixed wing multi-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 manufactured in 1985 owned by Michael Groff under Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC. The plane's certificate issue date was October 15, 2024 and with the expiration date of October 31, 2031. The aircraft was powered by two turbo-prop Honeywell TPE331 engines.[1]
The plane was sold a year before the crash and had an upgraded cockpit with newer technology that was certified to Federal Aviation Administration standards, according to the NTSB. The owner of the plane used it to commute to Rochester in New York where he was the executive medical director of neuroscience at Rochester Regional Health.[2][3]
Passengers and crew
[edit]The group was reportedly on their way to the Catskill Mountains for a birthday and Passover celebration. The six people on board the plane were two parents, Michael Groff and Joy Saini, their two children Karenna Groff and Jared Groff and their significant others James Santoro and Alexia Couyutas Duarte. Michael was the owner of the plane. The NTSB said Michael had completed the extra training the advanced aircraft required in October 2024.[4] Karenna was a former MIT soccer player who won the NCAA Woman of the Year Award in 2022. Karenna's partner James was a graduate of MIT. Michael was a neuroscientist and Joy was a urogynecologist. Jared was a 2022 graduate of Swarthmore College and worked as a paralegal. Jared's partner Alexia also graduated Swarthmore and planned to attend Harvard Law School in the fall.[5]
Weather
[edit]The crash site is 10 miles (16 km) from the airport so there can be a slight variance in weather readings. NTSB member Todd Inman said "What we can say is weather was at that time what we consider to be deteriorating". National Weather Service data show that it was overcast in that area of New York between 11:54 a.m. and 1:54 p.m. At 12:06 p.m. on the day of the accident, weather conditions recorded by the New York State Mesonet revealed a temperature of 36.9 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind chill of 29.1 degrees. The dewpoint was measured at 31.2 degrees, with winds ranging between 8 and 10 miles per hour, gusting up to 20 miles per hour. On the same day, various regions experienced precipitation, including slushy wet snow and rainfall, accumulating over half an inch since midnight. Additionally, at higher altitudes, temperatures typically drop, which could exacerbate the situation. The combination of near-freezing temperatures, rain, and gusty winds may have created hazardous flying conditions, contributing to the plane crash. Weather is now being looked at very closely in connection with the crash according to the National Transportation Safety Board.[6][7]
Crash
[edit]Prior to the crash at 9:30 a.m., the plane flew from Norwood Memorial Airport in Massachusetts and landed in White Plains at 10:19 a.m. to pick up passengers. It then left White Plains at 11:34 a.m. heading north into the Hudson Valley.[8]
At around 12:15 p.m. the plane crashed while on its second flight of the day at a high rate of descent into a flat 100-yard agricultural field after the pilot reported a missed approach in deteriorating weather to Columbia County Airport and attempted to try a second approach.[9] The NTSB said the pilot was flying under instrument flight rules, rather than visual flight rules, but it was too soon to determine if reduced visibility from weather conditions were a factor. Air traffic control made repeated attempts to contact the pilot but were not successful. The aircraft made no distress call.[7] The plane was intact when it crashed but virtual disintegration was visible. All bodies of the victims were recovered from the crash site.[2]
Aftermath
[edit]The NTSB brought in a team of air-traffic control specialists who have started week-long interviews with every of the controllers that were involved with the entire flight at the Albany air traffic control tower.[7]
Investigation
[edit]
The NTSB investigative team will be on the scene for at least a week. A preliminary report will be released within thirty days of the crash and the full investigative report will take twelve to twenty-four months.[2] The investigation will involve multiple parties, including the engine manufacturer Garrett AiResearch and the FAA. The Japan Transport Safety Board has also been authorized to help, since the plane was made in Japan.[6]
The NTSB said they used a drone to capture an aerial view of the crash site for analysis. On April 14, the drone team took more than 1,000 photos and completed mapped the wreckage location and surrounding areas. According to the NTSB the imagery is believed that it will be very helpful for the post-impact inspection and evaluation.[7] Multiple memory cards were also recovered and sent to Washington, D.C. for analysis. The plane's engines will be taken apart by investigators in Phoenix. The wreckage of the plane will ultimately be moved to Massachusetts for a more thorough examination.[8]
Reactions
[edit]NTSB member Todd Inman said "On behalf of everyone at the NTSB I want to express our sincere condolences for the families the survivors of the families and everyone who knew someone that perished in this accident. We're truly sorry anytime anyone has to go through this."[5] Swarthmore College posted on its website "With profound sadness, we are writing to share that our community lost several members of its extended family this past weekend"[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Aircraft Inquiry". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c "NTSB Media Briefing 1 - Mitsubishi MU2B Airplane Crash in Copake, New York". National Transportation Safety Board. April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ Offenhartz, Jake (April 14, 2025). "Rochester neurosurgeon among 6 killed in NY plane crash". RochesterFirst. Associated Press. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ "Neighbors recalled moments after deadly plane crash in Copake". ABC News. April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ a b "Plane crash in Columbia County kills 6, was heading to Hudson airport. What we know". Times Herald-Record. April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ a b "Weather being scrutinized in deadly Copake plane crash". NBC News. April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Plane crash near NYC that left from Westchester County Airport kills 6: What we know now". The Journal News. April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ a b "Preliminary report on Copake, N.Y. plane crash will take 30 days, NTSB says". CBS News. April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ "Six dead after small plane crashes in upstate New York; cause under investigation". USA Today. April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ "Several Swarthmore graduates among 6 killed after private plane crashes in Copake, NY". ABC News. April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.