Investigators outline final moments of plane crash that killed former college soccer star and family
Federal investigators are outlining the final moments of a plane crash last month in upstate New York that killed a family from Massachusetts heading to the Catskills to celebrate a birthday and the Passover holiday.
The victims of the April 12 crash in Copake, New York, included Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player named the 2022 NCAA woman of the year; her physician parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini; her brother, Jared Groff, and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte; and Karenna Groff's boyfriend, James Santoro.
The National Transportation Safety Board, in a preliminary report issued Friday, said the private plane departed Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York, at around 11:30 a.m. heading north to Columbia County Airport in Hudson.
Piloted by Michael Groff, the plane had left the Boston suburbs early Saturday morning, picking up Karenna Groff and Santoro in White Plains before making the short trip to the Catskills to celebrate Karenna Goff's 25th birthday.
But at about 11:57 a.m., Michael Groff informed air traffic control that he'd missed the initial approach to the runway at Columbia County Airport, according to the report. The controller then gave him new instructions for the landing, which Groff acknowledged a little after 12 p.m.
About a minute later, though, the controller warned Groff the plane was flying at a low altitude, the report states. The pilot never responded, and, despite multiple warnings, air traffic control received no further radio transmissions from the plane until radar contact was eventually lost.
The Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 crashed in snow covered terrain roughly 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the airport.
Investigators didn't provide an exact cause of the crash in the preliminary report.
But they noted that all major components of the aircraft found within a 150-foot debris field and that no significant weather advisories were in effect in the region at the time of the crash.
NTSB officials have previously said overcast conditions may have impacted the pilot's visibility and that an initial investigation had not turned up any issues with the aircraft.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Flooded Gateshead tower block tenants speak of uncertainty
People living in a tower block have spoken of their uncertainty after the property was evacuated for safety 31 households were left without power after an internal flood damaged the electrical system at Priory Court, on Gateshead's Hopper Street, on went to stay with family members while others were offered accommodation in nearby hotels, but said they were left unclear about their long-term council said it was assessing the full extent of the damage, with a view to returning residents to their home as soon as possible. Resident Maurice Birdsall told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It was like a waterfall going down the landing, then the electricity blew, there was nothing."It is in a state like, and it still smells, off the electrics." The 71-year-old added: "We are being told different stories, some are saying we will be in the Ramanda Hotel for a week."I thought we would be there by now, it happened on Friday." 'Struggles with walking' Lesley Stanners, who took her 80-year-old-father into her home in Stoneygate, said: "My dad phoned me on Friday and said the water had gone off and they had to evacuate."I told him to come to my brother who also lives there. "Nobody from the council has contacted me at all - I rang and they said they were in a meeting and would be in touch."My dad struggles with walking and with living in a house he struggles to get up and my bathroom is upstairs. "He doesn't want to go to a hotel, he is 80." A council spokesperson said temporary facilities were opened at the civic centre, with people relocated to hotels or with family and friends within hours of the flood."Investigations are we are currently assessing the full extent of the damage, with a view to returning residents to their home as soon as possible," they said."Immediate next steps include continuing support for affected residents, and notifying neighbouring blocks about related works and car park impacts." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Holidaying Brits warned ‘don't drink beer' in Spain as 42C African heat plume strikes – map shows scorched resorts
BRITS holidaying in Spain have been warned not to the drink the beer amid a scorching 42-degree heatwave from Africa. Areas of the country roasted under extreme heat over the weekend - and the balmy temperatures look set to stay. 6 6 6 Some spots were so hot the state forecaster, Aemet, was forced to issue weather warnings. Yellow and amber alerts came into force on Sunday - with Sevilla, Cordoba and Jaen in the south worst affected. Emergency guidance was issued to tourists and locals alike advising them on how to stay safe when it's sweltering. One suggestion likely unpopular with Brits on their hols was to avoid alcohol, because it has a dehydrating effect on the body. The advice is to drink water often, even if you're not thirsty, and avoid both alcohol and caffeine. It was also recommended to "dress smart", which means wearing loose-fitting clothes - particularly cotton or linen if possible. Lighter colours reflect the sun so can help you to stay cool. Another point is to simply stay indoors during times of peak temperatures, and certainly to avoid any strenuous activity under the sun. The authorities also issued a reminder about the signs of heatstroke, so people know when they need to find help. Fatigue, dizziness, headaches, confusion and nausea are all common symptoms of heatstroke which, in severe cases, can be fatal. Houses should be shuttered up during the day, it was advised, but and vents opened at night to allow a cooling airflow. And finally, people were urged to keep a close eye on anyone vulnerable. The elderly, people with chronic illnesses or those living alone are particularly at risk of heat-related complications, so communities were encouraged to work together to check in on them. There was a special mention for tourists, who are more likely to end up in hospital during heatwaves than seasoned locals. The culprit behind the immense heat was a plume of hot air which blew over from north Africa. Once it reached Spain, the air stayed hot thanks to clear skies and atmospheric stability, Aemet explained. Monday was predicted to bring more of the same the heat, with some areas again expected to top 40 degrees. The thermometer is predicted to remain high through this week, and above average for the rest of June. And there is also expected to be less rain than usual, meaning it will be dry all round for the country. However, there could be a temporary let-up from localised mid-week storms in the northwest and centre of the country. This follows a particularly hot May, with many locations seeing record-breaking temperatures - particularly in southern and western areas of Spain. 6 6 6
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Terrifying moment lightning bolt strikes trees just metres from girl, 6, sending screaming kids scrambling for shelter
THIS is the terrifying moment a lightning bolt strikes just meters behind an unsuspecting six-year-old girl. The mammoth bolt struck trees in Southern California, as a shocked mom and her two kids dashed for cover. 3 3 3 Tiffanie Buckner was filming the approaching storm before heading inside with her children on Tuesday. In the shocking video, Penelope, 6, is seen nonchalantly standing in front of the camera. Suddenly, a massive lightning bolt strikes trees in the yard of the house across the street. Penelope, her mom and brother let out an instant scream. The startled children can be seen sprinting towards their mom. Buckner told Storyful: 'It was different than the normal lightning we receive that just lights up the sky.' She explained that she had wanted to show her mother and husband the weather. But what started off as innocent weather-watching, soon took a more sinister turn. 'The sound was so loud and immediate that it made us all jump and sent the kids in running," Buckner said. Though shaken at first, Penelope apparently quickly forgot the scare and even asked to go back outside once the rain began. Lightning strikes a British family-of-four living on a boat - 'There was a big flash of white light. It was everywhere, it was like we were inside it' Her mom said: 'Of course, the answer was no. 'But kids were OK and loved the storm and have an amazing story to tell.' Penelope told local news station NBC 4: 'It was amazing, but it scared me a little bit." The strike hit a tree in the yard of the family's neighbor Keith Fulthorp. 'It was loud, shook the house. Like an earthquake," he told NBC 4. His daughter Alena said: 'We just felt like the whole house shaking.' Both trees struck caught fire, but luckily the rain quickly put it out, Fulthorp said. One tree was split down the middle, while the other suffered serious damage, he added. Thunderstorms are rare in Southern California, with fewer than 10 days a year seeing reported lightning. The violent weather phenomenon is more common in England - with lightning reported on dozens of days each year, especially during summer months. Just last month, a house in Chichester, England caught fire after a lightning strike during sweeping thunderstorms across the country. Shocking photos show smoke streaming from the roof of the property.
