What began as a family trip to celebrate a birthday and Passover ended in heartbreak, as a close-knit group of high achievers never reached their destination.
A Mitsubishi MU-2B twin-engine aircraft crashed in a muddy field near Copake, New York, at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time on Saturday, April 12, 2025, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board. The private plane had been headed to Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash on its website and noted that the investigation would be conducted jointly with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead the inquiry and issue all future updates.
The aircraft was carrying six members of a family traveling to the Catskills region for a birthday celebration and the Passover holiday.
Authorities and a family member speaking to the Associated Press revealed the identities of those who died in the crash. Among them was Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player who was named the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022.
Her father, Dr. Michael Groff, was a neuroscientist, and her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, was a urogynecologist. Her brother, Jared Groff, graduated from Swarthmore College in 2022 and was working as a paralegal.
Jared’s partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, also graduated from Swarthmore and had been accepted to Harvard Law School for the upcoming fall. Karenna’s boyfriend, James Santoro, was a recent MIT graduate.
According to officials with the National Transportation Safety Board, shortly before the crash, the pilot made radio contact with air traffic control at Columbia County Airport to report that he had missed the initial approach and was requesting a new approach plan.
While air traffic controllers were preparing to provide the updated coordinates, they attempted to relay a low-altitude alert three times. There was no response from the pilot, and no distress call was made.
Video footage obtained by investigators appears to show that the aircraft was intact in its final moments and impacted the ground at a high rate of descent.
NTSB official Todd Inman shared this information during a press briefing on Sunday, indicating the aircraft’s structure remained whole before the crash and that the descent was rapid and uncontrolled.
The aircraft was bound for Columbia County Airport but crashed approximately 10 miles south of its intended destination. Todd also confirmed that the aircraft was “compressed, buckled and embedded in the terrain” upon impact.
The pilot had been operating under instrument flight rules, though investigators have not yet determined whether visibility issues due to weather played a role. The plane had been sold a year prior and was equipped with an upgraded cockpit that met current FAA certification standards.
One officer from the Sheriff’s Office said, “We do not know what happened at this time. FAA is on scene. NTSB is en-route. We estimate the investigation will take a couple of days.”
NTSB investigators expect to remain at the site for about a week. A full accident report may take 12 to 24 months to complete.
Karenna, one of the plane crash victims, had been widely recognized not only for her athletic accomplishments but also for her academic and humanitarian contributions.
In January 2023, the NCAA announced her as the 2022 Woman of the Year. In a video message released at the time, she introduced herself as a biological engineering major at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was also a graduate student pursuing a master’s in biomedical engineering.
She shared her continued connection with the MIT women’s soccer team and described her work at Boston Children’s Hospital, where her thesis focused on understanding the genetic basis of epilepsy and developing potential gene therapies.
She co-founded openPPE, an initiative launched early in the COVID-19 pandemic that designed and distributed masks made from HEPA filters using origami techniques.
The designs were shared publicly and distributed to essential workers. “Being able to push that forward and give back to the community is just such a rewarding thing to be a part of,” she said.
Karenna’s athletic career at MIT was marked by numerous achievements. She served as a two-time captain of the soccer team and twice co-president of the Student Athletic Advisory Council.
ICYMI: Hear from @NCAA Woman of the Year recipient Karenna Groff after yesterday’s ceremony in San Antonio as she talks about hearing her name called, meeting the other Top 30 honorees, her time at @MIT and what is next! #NCAAWOTY #RollTech pic.twitter.com/XBP0gqrO3v
— MIT Athletics (@MITAthletics) January 13, 2023
She spoke proudly about setting the second-fastest hat trick in Division III history during her first game playing forward, saying she had been trying to emulate the movements of older teammates.
She was also a 2022 All-American and recalled her participation in the 2016 Maccabiah Games, known as “The Jewish Olympics,” where she competed as part of Team USA.
Meet the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, Karenna Groff of @MITAthletics!#NCAAWOTY pic.twitter.com/CizP7dkXzB
— NCAA (@NCAA) January 12, 2023
After graduating from MIT, Karenna moved to Manhattan with her partner, James. She enrolled in medical school at New York University, while James began working as an investment associate at Silver Point, a hedge fund in Greenwich, Connecticut.
The family’s trip to upstate New York began on the morning of April 12. According to John Santoro, James’ father, the group boarded a private plane at Westchester County Airport in White Plains.
The plane was piloted by Dr. Michael, Karenna’s father, who was described in a family statement as a distinguished neurosurgeon and experienced pilot.
MIT athlete and Weston High graduate Karenna Groff, family members among those killed in New York plane crash. https://t.co/iJObGGRfBi pic.twitter.com/ZxnZ4mI5Ra
— Boston.com (@BostonDotCom) April 13, 2025
Karenna’s mother, Dr. Joy, was a pelvic surgeon and the founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness. She received her medical training at the University of Pittsburgh, where she met Michael.
Dr. Michael Groff’s death was confirmed by Rochester Regional Health, where he served as Executive Medical Director of Neurosciences.
In a statement released on April 12, CEO Richard “Chip” Davis, PhD, described him as “a highly respected neurosurgeon and physician leader, known for his clinical excellence, compassionate care, and unwavering commitment to advancing the field of neuroscience.”
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The organization extended its condolences to the Groff family and requested privacy for them during this time. John Santoro confirmed that funeral arrangements were underway.
The tragedy has brought attention to the victims’ shared legacy of academic excellence, professional achievement, and athletic distinction. The focus remains on uncovering the circumstances that led to the crash and honoring the lives lost in the incident.
Source: news.amomama.com