A devastating Columbia County plane crash claimed the lives of six people on April 12 after a private flight departed from Westchester County Airport and crashed near Copake, New York. Among the victims was Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer standout and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year.
What Happened in the Columbia County Plane Crash?
The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft was en route to Columbia County Airport when it went down in a field close to Route 23 and Two Town Road around 12:06 p.m., according to NTSB officials. The pilot, Michael Groff, had reported a missed approach before the plane disappeared from radar, triggering a low-altitude alert.
Air traffic control attempted to contact the pilot multiple times but received no response. There was no distress call.
Victims of the Columbia County Plane Crash Identified
The victims of the Columbia County plane crash were all members of a tight-knit group of elite professionals and students, on their way to celebrate a birthday and Passover in the Catskills.
Who They Were
- Karenna Groff, 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, MIT soccer star, and NYU med student
- Dr. Michael Groff, a neurosurgeon and experienced pilot
- Dr. Joy Saini, urogynecologist and founder of Boston Pelvic Health
- Jared Groff, a paralegal and Swarthmore College graduate
- Alexia Couyutas Duarte, aspiring Harvard Law student
- James Santoro, Karenna’s boyfriend, MIT grad and hedge fund associate
“They were a wonderful family,” said John Santoro, father of James. “The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world.”
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NTSB to Investigate Columbia County Plane Crash
Todd Inman from the NTSB confirmed that a full investigation into the Columbia County plane crash is underway. While preliminary findings are expected within 30 days, the final report could take up to 24 months.
“Our mission is to understand not just what happened, but why it happened,” Inman said, urging anyone with crash video to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text “STRENGTH” to 741-741.
