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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating weather conditions as a potential cause of a plane crash in Copake that killed six people on Saturday (April 12). The crash involved a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 aircraft, which went down near Route 23 and Two Town Road, just 10 miles from its destination, Columbia County Airport. The plane had taken off from Westchester County Airport.
According to NTSB member Todd Inman, the weather was deteriorating around the time of the crash, with near-freezing temperatures and gusty winds. The cloud ceiling at Columbia County Airport was recorded at 400 feet, the minimum required for instrument-based landings. The pilot had missed an approach and was attempting another when air traffic control detected a low altitude alert. Despite attempts to communicate this to the pilot, there was no response.
The plane was equipped with deicing strips, but it is unclear if they were maintained properly. FAA records show the plane was manufactured in 1985 and had its airworthiness certificate reissued in 1995. The aircraft had recently been sold and updated with a new avionics system. The pilot had completed the necessary additional training required for this type of aircraft.
The crash claimed the lives of Dr. Michael Groff, Dr. Joy Saini, their daughter Karenna, her partner James Santoro, her brother Jared Groff, and his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte. The group was traveling to the Catskills to celebrate a birthday and Passover.
The NTSB has formed a working group to investigate, including representatives from Honeywell, the FAA, and the Japanese Safety Board. A preliminary report is expected in about 30 days, with a final report due in approximately 12 months. This incident marks the fourth fatal plane crash in the Capital Region since the start of 2024.