Small Plane Crash in Copake Leaves at Least One Dead

At least one person is confirmed dead following a small plane crash in Copake on Saturday afternoon (April 12). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft was carrying six people when it crashed in an open field around 12:15 p.m. The plane was en route from White Plains, Westchester County, to Columbia County Airport in Hudson.

Authorities have not disclosed the total number of fatalities or the identities of those on board. Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore stated that the crash site, located near Two Town Road, presented challenging conditions due to mud, complicating access to the scene.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash, with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and State Police assisting. The NTSB has announced plans to hold a media briefing on Sunday (April 13) to provide further updates.

The cause of the crash remains unknown, and the investigation is expected to continue over the coming days. The aircraft was registered to a Massachusetts-based limited liability company, according to flight data.