NTSB Investigates Deadly Crash of Family Plane in Upstate New York

Officials are looking into a tragic plane crash that happened on Saturday in upstate New York, near the town of Copake. The small plane had six people on board when it went down in a farm field around 12:06 p.m. The crash site was about 10 miles from Columbia County Airport.

The plane was a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40. According to investigators, it crashed into the ground at a very high speed. The aircraft was badly damaged, compressed, and buried in the soil.

At a press conference on Sunday, Todd Inman from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that all six people were removed from the scene. He didn’t confirm how many had died but noted that no one was taken to the hospital.

Investigators also said they have video showing the plane was whole before the crash. It appears the plane fell quickly before hitting the ground.

Albert Nixon, the lead investigator, shared more details. He said the pilot had reported a missed landing attempt and asked air traffic control for help. A few moments later, a low altitude alert went off. The controller tried to contact the pilot several times but got no response. There was also no distress call.

The plane had taken off from Westchester County Airport. The pilot was experienced and fully certified. The passengers were a family traveling for a holiday gathering.

The NTSB will stay at the crash site for about a week. A preliminary report is expected in about 30 days, and the full investigation could take up to 2 years.

Inman ended the briefing by offering condolences: “We are truly sorry for the families who lost loved ones in this accident.”