The investigation into a tragic private plane crash that resulted in six fatalities has uncovered the pilot’s actions during the flight’s final moments.
A group consisting of a family of doctors, student athletes, and their partners perished when their plane crashed into a muddy field in Copake, near the Massachusetts border in upstate New York. This incident occurred shortly after noon on April 12.
The aircraft was owned by Dr. Michael Groff, a neuroscientist who was at the controls alongside his wife, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist.
Their daughter, Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, was also on board with her boyfriend, James Santoro, another MIT alum.
Also on the flight were Karenna’s brother, Jared Groff, a 2022 Swarthmore College graduate employed as a paralegal, and his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, a Swarthmore graduate planning to attend Harvard Law School.
The purpose of the flight was to celebrate Karenna’s 25th birthday, which aligned with the Passover Holiday.
Fresh, unsettling details have now emerged about what transpired just before the crash.
The private plane’s departure from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, a New York City suburb, was scheduled for 11:16 am.
Dr. Groff, 55, was delayed and missed his initial approach to Columbia County Airport’s runway. According to investigators, he had left the Boston suburbs early that morning to collect Karenna and Santoro from White Plains.
Around 11:57 am, Groff informed air traffic control of his missed approach, receiving new landing instructions, which he acknowledged shortly after noon.
A minute later, a controller warned Groff that the plane was flying too low, but despite multiple warnings, he did not respond.
Subsequent radio contact with the aircraft ceased before it crashed, as indicated in the report.
The crash site was about 10 miles south of the airport in a muddy, snow-covered field, with no significant weather warnings for the area at the time.
The families of Groff, Santoro, and Duarte issued a statement: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved family members. We will remember them as the six brilliant, dynamic, and loving people that they were.”
James’ father, John Santoro, expressed to the Associated Press: “They were a wonderful family. The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity. We’re all personally devastated.”
Karenna Groff and James Santoro were among those on board the plane (John Santoro/NBC Boston).
Michael’s family, as reported by Times Union, described him as “an experienced pilot, who fell in love with flying after being taught by his father at the age of sixteen.”
Rochester Regional Health CEO Richard Davis stated: “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.”
For those who have experienced a loss and wish to speak confidentially, GrieveWell can be reached at (734) 975-0238 or via email at [email protected].