On Saturday, a devastating private plane crash in Columbia County, New York, resulted in no survivors, as confirmed by federal officials during a news conference on Sunday. The aircraft was preparing for a second landing attempt at Columbia County Airport in Ghent when the tragedy occurred. Six individuals, who were traveling for a planned holiday celebration with family, were on board at the time of the accident.
Among the victims was 26-year-old James Santoro, a recent graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who was identified by a family friend as one of those who perished in the crash. The other five individuals included notable figures: Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year; her father, Dr. Michael Groff, a respected neuroscientist; her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist; her brother, Jared Groff, a 2022 graduate of Swarthmore College; and Alexia Couyutas Duarte, Jared’s partner and a fellow Swarthmore alum who had plans to attend Harvard Law School.
According to Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), all six bodies were recovered from the wreckage, with no one requiring hospitalization. He described the aircraft as being "compressed, buckled, and embedded into the terrain," indicating a severe impact. The plane, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, crashed into a field near Copake around 12:15 p.m. while attempting to land, approximately 10 miles south of its intended destination at Columbia County Airport.
The flight originated from Westchester County Airport in West Harrison, situated just north of New York City and about 100 miles from Ghent. The pilot, who was experienced, had made an initial landing attempt but abandoned it before preparing for a second approach. During this process, the plane descended rapidly into the ground, as reported by NTSB officials.
During the news conference, NTSB investigator Albert Nixon revealed that the Columbia County Airport air traffic control tower had attempted to reach the pilot four times, but there was no response. The communication attempts included alerts about a low-altitude warning; however, the pilot did not make a distress call before the impact. At the time of the crash, the pilot was operating the aircraft using instruments due to the overcast skies and snow on the ground, with temperatures hovering around 35 degrees as per the National Weather Service.
Investigators are currently reviewing video footage of the crash, although it remains unclear where it was recorded, and it is unlikely to be made public. The Mitsubishi MU-2B is a twin-turboprop aircraft equipped with a pressurized cabin, allowing it to operate at higher altitudes compared to many non-commercial planes. Inman also mentioned that the aircraft had changed ownership last year and received significant upgrades to its avionics system.
The plane was registered under Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC, based in Weston, Massachusetts. Dr. Michael Groff is noted as the sole agent and contact for this entity in state incorporation records.
The tragic loss of these six individuals has left a profound impact on their families and the community. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office has yet to confirm the identities of those on board or the circumstances surrounding the crash as the investigation continues. As more information emerges, it is essential to remember the lives lost in this heartbreaking incident.
