- 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year Karenna Groff among six family members killed
- Crash occurred during second landing attempt amid deteriorating weather
- Pilot Michael Groff had completed advanced training weeks earlier
- NTSB preliminary report expected within 30 days
The aviation community mourns the loss of six family members, including rising neurosurgery star Karenna Groff, whose plane crashed during a Saturday afternoon approach to Columbia County Airport. The 28-year-old former MIT soccer captain had been traveling with her parents, brother, and their partners when the twin-engine turboprop descended at 1,200 feet per minute into a Copake farm field.
Groff's medical career trajectory mirrored that of her parents – Dr. Michael Groff, a Boston neurosurgeon, and Dr. Joy Saini, a pelvic reconstruction specialist. Her fiancé James Santoro, a Columbia University bioengineering PhD candidate, also perished in the crash. Family statements reveal the couple planned to marry this summer following Santoro's intended proposal.
Regional aviation records show three fatal small-plane crashes within 50 miles of Copake since 2020. A 2023 SUNY Albany study found 38% of Hudson Valley aviation incidents involve deteriorating visibility conditions, matching the NTSB's initial weather concerns. Air traffic control transcripts reveal the pilot acknowledged a missed approach before losing contact at 1,800 feet elevation.
Industry analysts note recent FAA policy changes requiring recurrent simulator training for private pilots flying complex aircraft. Michael Groff had completed his Beechcraft Baron certification refresh in October 2023, including emergency procedure drills. Aviation Safety Network data indicates turboprop accident rates decreased 12% nationally since 2020, though mechanical failures remain leading contributors.
The tragedy highlights unique risks of family group flights. MIT athletic director Julie Soriero recalled Groff's leadership: Karenna transformed our program through data-driven conditioning plans she developed during COVID lockdowns.Memorial services will combine medical and athletic communities, reflecting the family's multidisciplinary legacy.
