On Saturday, a catastrophic plane crash in Columbia County resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including a prominent doctor from Rochester, New York. The incident occurred in Copake, approximately 50 miles southeast of Albany, and has left the local community in mourning.
According to a press briefing held on Sunday, officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the crash site was located in an open field, where the small passenger aircraft was found severely compressed, buckled, and embedded into the terrain. Todd Inman, an NTSB board member, revealed that investigators had obtained video footage of part of the crash, although they do not plan to release it to the public.
The aircraft, a small passenger plane manufactured by Mitsubishi, was registered to Dynamic Spine Solutions based in Weston, Massachusetts, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plane was en route to land at Columbia County Airport but tragically crashed about 10 miles south of the intended destination. The radar indicated a low altitude alert prior to the crash, as explained by Albert Nixon, the NTSB Investigator in charge. An air traffic control (ATC) controller attempted to communicate this low altitude alert to the pilot, making three additional contact attempts, all of which were unsuccessful.
This devastating incident claimed the lives of several individuals, including Dr. Michael Groff, the Executive Director of Neurosciences at Rochester Regional Health. Dr. Groff was a highly respected neurosurgeon, recognized for his clinical excellence and compassionate care. The crash also took the lives of his daughter, Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player who had recently been honored as the NCAA Woman of the Year, her boyfriend James Santoro, and her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist practicing in Boston.
In a heartfelt statement, Rochester Regional Health expressed their deep sorrow over the passing of Dr. Groff, stating, “Rochester Regional Health is deeply saddened to confirm the death of Michael Groff, MD, Executive Medical Director of Neurosciences, who passed away as a result of a plane crash that occurred on Saturday, April 12, in Columbia County, New York. Dr. Groff was a highly respected neurosurgeon and physician leader known for his clinical excellence, compassionate care, and unwavering commitment to advancing the field of neuroscience. His contributions to our health system and to the health of the patients he served were immeasurable. We are in contact with Dr. Groff’s family and ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time. At this time, we have no additional information to share.”
Inman added that family members were on board the plane, and they were attempting to land at Columbia County Airport for a holiday celebration with relatives in the area. The community continues to grieve this tragic loss, as investigations into the crash are ongoing. The NTSB is expected to provide further updates as they uncover more details regarding the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.
