Tragedy in Upstate New York: Former NCAA Woman of the Year Among Six Killed in Plane Crash

A devastating plane crash in upstate New York has claimed the lives of six people, including a standout former MIT athlete and her family, as they traveled for a holiday gathering.

The crash occurred around midday Saturday, when a private twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B went down in a muddy field near Craryville, New York. Authorities say there were no survivors.

Among the victims was Karenna Groff, 23, a former MIT football player who made history as the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022. Known for her academic excellence and athletic talent, she was also pursuing a medical degree at New York University (NYU) at the time of the crash.

Karenna was flying with her parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, both respected physicians, as well as her brother Jared Groff, his partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, and her own partner, James Santoro.

A joint statement from the families described them as “a wonderful family” who had bright futures ahead. “The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity,” said John Santoro, James’s father, in a heartfelt message to the Associated Press. “We’re all personally devastated.”

Karenna’s legacy at MIT and NYU left a lasting impression. “She demonstrated exceptional skill and unwavering passion toward the care of patients and the mission of our institution,” an NYU spokesperson said. “We will remember her for her warmth, her grace, and the pure joy she brought to our community.”

Her brother Jared worked as a paralegal, and Alexia, his partner, was set to attend Harvard Law School. The family’s path was one of achievement, dedication, and potential.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft was intact during its final moments, captured in a video obtained by investigators, before it crashed at a high rate of descent.

The pilot has not been officially confirmed by authorities, but The New York Times reported that Karenna’s father, Dr. Michael Groff—described as an experienced pilot—was flying the plane.

At a Sunday press briefing, NTSB investigator Todd Inman said the plane had been flying under instrument flight rules, commonly used when weather limits visibility. Air traffic control attempted to contact the pilot multiple times but received no response. No distress call was made.

The aircraft, upgraded with modern avionics and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, was described as “compressed, buckled and embedded in the terrain.”

A full investigation is underway. The NTSB expects to release a final report determining the cause of the crash within 12 to 24 months.

This incident comes just days after another aviation tragedy in New York, where six people—including a Spanish tourist family—died in a helicopter crash.