6 Shocking New York Plane Incidents In 2025: NTSB Reveals Preliminary Findings On Deadly Family Crash
The state of New York has been the site of two profoundly serious aviation incidents in 2025, highlighting the persistent safety challenges across its dense and complex airspace, from tragic General Aviation accidents in upstate regions to concerning commercial mishaps at major metropolitan hubs. As of December 18, 2025, the aviation community is still grappling with the fallout from the deadly April 12, 2025, crash in Copake, New York, which claimed the lives of six family members, while simultaneously reviewing the circumstances of a troubling October taxiway collision at LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched full-scale investigations into both events, with preliminary reports shedding light on the final moments of the tragic private flight and the operational errors at one of the nation’s busiest airports. The findings underscore critical issues ranging from pilot decision-making under adverse conditions to the sheer operational risk inherent in the congested New York Metro Airspace.
The Groff Family Tragedy: Details of the Copake Plane Crash (April 2025)
The community was shaken by the devastating loss of six members of the Groff family from Massachusetts, whose private aircraft crashed in a snow-covered field near Copake, New York, in Columbia County. The accident occurred on April 12, 2025, around 12:03 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), following a flight that originated from Westchester County Airport (KHPN) in White Plains, NY.
Victims and Pilot Profile
The six individuals killed were all members of a highly accomplished, close-knit family. The pilot, Dr. Michael Groff, was a distinguished neurosurgeon, and his daughter, Karenna Groff, was a former NCAA Woman of the Year.
- Dr. Michael Groff: Pilot, a respected neurosurgeon.
- Dr. Joy Saini: Wife of Dr. Groff, also a physician.
- Karenna Groff: Daughter, former NCAA Woman of the Year (2022 recipient) and a former MIT soccer player.
- Jared Groff: Son.
- Alexia Couyutas Duarte: Family member/passenger.
- James Santoro: Family member/passenger.
NTSB Preliminary Findings and Flight Path
The aircraft involved was a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 turboprop, registered N635TA. The NTSB’s preliminary report indicates the flight was attempting to land at a private airstrip in the area, likely the Great Barrington Airport (KGBR), which is close to the New York-Massachusetts border.
Key findings from the initial NTSB investigation include:
- Missed Approach: The pilot, Dr. Groff, reported a missed approach to air traffic control (ATC) just moments before the radar track was lost.
- Weather Conditions: The crash site was in snow-covered terrain, and recorded security camera video from the area showed a low overcast cloud layer present at the time of the accident. This suggests poor visibility and instrument flight conditions.
- High Rate of Descent: Video evidence obtained by the NTSB showed the aircraft was intact before it impacted the muddy field at a high rate of descent. This is often indicative of a loss of control or an aerodynamic stall.
The ongoing investigation will focus on the pilot's experience, the aircraft’s maintenance history, and the exact circumstances of the missed approach, particularly how the high-performance turboprop was handled in the challenging weather.
The Complex History of the Mitsubishi MU-2B-40
The choice of aircraft, the Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire, adds a layer of complexity to the investigation. The MU-2 is a high-performance, pressurized, twin-engine turboprop known for its speed and efficiency, but it also has a notable history of accidents, particularly among General Aviation pilots.
A Challenging Safety Record
The Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives (BAAA) reports that the MU-2 model has been involved in 37 fatal accidents worldwide over a 25-year period, resulting in 72 fatalities. This history has led the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pay specific attention to the aircraft type.
Critics and safety experts point out that the MU-2’s unique wing design and high wing loading make it highly sensitive to pilot input, demanding a higher level of proficiency and specialized training, especially in adverse conditions like those present over Columbia County. The FAA previously mandated a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for the MU-2 to enhance pilot training and standardization, recognizing the aircraft's demanding flight characteristics.
The NTSB will be scrutinizing the pilot's specific training and recent experience flying the Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 (tail number N635TA), especially since a previous report on the aircraft indicated the pilot had not flown the model for many years before acquiring the accident aircraft. This lapse in familiarity with the demanding turboprop could be a significant factor in the final NTSB determination.
Beyond the Crash: New York’s Persistent Airspace Challenges
While the Copake tragedy involved General Aviation, commercial aviation in New York also faced a serious incident in 2025, underscoring the broader safety risks within the New York Metro Airspace.
The LaGuardia Taxiway Collision (October 2025)
On the evening of October 31, 2025, two United Airlines planes, Flight 580 and Flight 434, were involved in a ground collision at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in Queens, New York. United Airlines Flight 580, arriving from Chicago, clipped the tail of the parked United Airlines Flight 434 while maneuvering on the taxiway.
Though no serious injuries were reported among the total of 328 passengers and crew across both aircraft, the incident caused significant damage and highlighted the persistent risk of runway and taxiway incursions at high-density airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NTSB are investigating the exact cause, which likely involves ground control communication, pilot situational awareness, and the operational constraints of the busy New York airport.
The Most Congested Airspace in the Nation
The complexity of New York's airspace is a widely recognized entity in the aviation world. The New York Metro Airspace, which services John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and several critical regional airports like Westchester County Airport (KHPN) and Teterboro Airport (TEB), is considered the most congested and complex in the National Airspace System (NAS).
This extreme density is not just a cause of passenger frustration—leading to approximately 75% of all delays in the NAS—but also a significant safety challenge. The constant flow of commercial jetliners, regional carriers, and General Aviation traffic operating in close proximity, especially under adverse weather conditions, demands absolute precision from air traffic controllers and pilots alike.
The recent 2025 incidents—the tragic loss of the Groff family in the demanding Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 and the near-miss on the LaGuardia taxiway—serve as stark reminders that despite decades of safety improvements, the dangers of aviation are magnified within the challenging and high-stakes environment of New York's skies.
As the NTSB continues its final analysis of the Copake crash and the LaGuardia collision, the aviation world awaits final reports that will likely lead to new recommendations for pilot training, operational procedures, and airspace management to prevent a recurrence of these devastating and concerning 2025 events.
Detail Author:
- Name : Leda Hermann
- Username : batz.valentina
- Email : wilhelmine.johnson@olson.com
- Birthdate : 1973-05-19
- Address : 1718 Brennan Village West Berrychester, MD 03609
- Phone : +1.857.298.0402
- Company : Lindgren and Sons
- Job : Chemical Plant Operator
- Bio : Vero sit omnis incidunt qui ut. Atque quibusdam et perspiciatis quo. Qui quia aliquam iusto. Exercitationem ullam aliquam sit ut. Suscipit officiis labore non ratione voluptatum placeat omnis.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/albertstiedemann
- username : albertstiedemann
- bio : Sit eveniet ut est. Nobis minus rerum veniam exercitationem temporibus vel aut.
- followers : 5265
- following : 1566
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/albertstiedemann
- username : albertstiedemann
- bio : Aperiam quam impedit ipsa laudantium. Natus omnis dolorum quos ab vitae. Est nam et eveniet.
- followers : 4273
- following : 1887
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@albert_xx
- username : albert_xx
- bio : Ut tempora quisquam quia ullam.
- followers : 6250
- following : 436
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/stiedemann2019
- username : stiedemann2019
- bio : Distinctio rerum tempora laudantium dolores.
- followers : 6680
- following : 403
