Picture Credits: Peter Bakema (Image for representation only)
New York, U.S.A: A tragic plane crash in Columbia County on April 12 claimed the lives of six people, including a Massachusetts-based physician couple, their two children, and their children’s partners. The incident occurred just days after a separate aviation accident, when a helicopter plunged into the Hudson River, raising renewed concerns about flight safety in the region.
The aircraft, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire registered as N635TA and owned by Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC, departed Westchester County Airport around 11:30 a.m. and was en route to Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York. Originally scheduled to land at Norwood Memorial Airport in Massachusetts, the flight diverted to Hudson due to deteriorating weather conditions and low visibility.
At approximately 12:15 p.m., the aircraft crashed in an agricultural field near Two Town Road in Copake, roughly 10 miles south of its intended destination. The twin-engine turboprop was flying under instrument flight rules when it missed an approach to the airport and requested clearance for another attempt. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), air traffic control radar issued a low altitude alert and attempted to contact the pilot multiple times without success. Moments later, the aircraft disappeared from radar.
NTSB board member Todd Inman stated that video footage obtained by investigators shows the aircraft was intact before descending rapidly and impacting the ground. The wreckage site extended approximately 100 yards, and the plane was described as “compressed, buckled, and embedded into the terrain.” There were no survivors. The victims included:
- Dr. Michael Groff, associate professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and executive medical director of neuroscience at Rochester Regional Health
- Dr. Joy Saini, urogynecologist, surgeon, and founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness
- Their daughter, Karenna Groff, an MIT graduate, NCAA Woman of the Year, and medical student in the neurosurgery department at NYU Langone
- Karenna’s partner, James Santoro, who had planned to propose to her this summer
- Their son, Jared Groff, a Swarthmore College graduate considering law school
- Jared’s partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, also a Swarthmore alum, passionate about immigration law and recently accepted to Harvard Law School
The couple’s younger daughter, Anika Groff, was not aboard the flight.
Picture Credits: Associated Press
The group was reportedly traveling to the Catskills for a birthday celebration and to observe the Passover holiday. Family members released a joint statement describing the victims as “six brilliant, dynamic, and loving people.”
The plane had been upgraded with advanced avionics after being sold within the past year. No distress call was made prior to the crash. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft veered east before vanishing from radar near Copake, about 30 miles southeast of Columbia County Airport.
Ongoing Investigation
NTSB investigators, joined by representatives from Mitsubishi, Honeywell (the engine manufacturer), and the air traffic controllers union, are examining the site. Authorities confirmed that the pilot was experienced and had been flying since the age of 16. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the FAA are conducting parallel investigations.
Rochester Regional Health CEO Richard Davis praised Dr. Groff in a statement, calling him “a highly respected neurosurgeon and physician leader, known for his clinical excellence, compassionate care, and unwavering commitment to neuroscience.”
Inman urged the public to share any video or photographic evidence by emailing witness@ntsb.gov. He noted that weather, human factors, and equipment performance will all be considered in the investigation.
A preliminary NTSB report is expected within 30 days, while the final report could take up to 24 months. Plans for funerals and memorials are currently underway.
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