On April 12, 2025, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire crashed in Copake, New York, killing all six people on board.
The twin-engine turboprop, registered as N635TA, went down in a muddy agricultural field near Two. As the NTSB begins the task of retrieving the wreckage, further details have come to light.
Copake, New York Fatal Crash
The tragedy unfolded around 12:15 p.m. when the aircraft attempted a landing at Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York. The pilot reported a missed approach to air traffic control and requested a new plan.
Moments later, controllers issued three low-altitude warnings, but the pilot didn’t respond. No distress call was made.
The aircraft then plummeted at a high rate of descent. It crashed into the ground with such force that it became “compressed, buckled, and embedded” in the soil, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The victims were a tight-knit family heading to the Catskills for a 25th birthday celebration and Passover Seder.
They included Dr. Michael Groff, a neurosurgeon and the pilot; his wife, Dr. Joy Saini, a pelvic surgeon; their daughter Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer star and medical student; her partner James Santoro, an investment banker; their son Jared Groff, a paralegal; and his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, an aspiring Harvard Law student.
Their loss has left a profound void in their communities.
Investigation Underway
The NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation. Early findings suggest the aircraft, manufactured in 1985 and owned by Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC, was in serviceable condition. The aircraft was equipped with an upgraded cockpit certified to FAA standards.
It was flying under instrument flight rules, in conditions of low visibility. A coastal storm brought snow and possible icing conditions to the region, but it’s too soon to say if weather played a role.
Investigators face challenges at the crash site. Muddy terrain and snowmelt made it hard for emergency crews to reach the wreckage, delaying recovery efforts.
The NTSB expects to release a preliminary report soon, but a full investigation could take one to two years. They’re examining flight data, weather patterns, and the aircraft maintenance records.
The Mitsubishi MU-2B has a history of crashes linked to its high-performance design, often tied to pilot training or icing issues. However, no cause has been confirmed, with the investigation in its preliminary stages.
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