
Investigators on the scene of the fatal plane crash in Craryville on Sunday, April 13.
Photo courtesy NTSB
Investigators on the scene of the fatal plane crash in Craryville on Sunday, April 13.
COPAKE — A Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 plane carrying six people crashed in an open field near Two Town Road shortly after noon on Saturday, April 12, killing all aboard.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft departed from Westchester County Airport and was headed to Columbia County Airport in Hudson.
NTSB board member Todd Inman said Sunday night that the plane‘s passengers were headed to the area for a holiday celebration with family.
Among the victims were Karenna and Jared Groff, their parents Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini; and Alexia Couyutas Duarte and James Santoro, according to a family statement.
The NTSB will lead the investigation and expects it will be approximately 30 days before a preliminary report is issued. A full report may take 12 to 24 months, Inman said. The NTSB expects to be on the scene in Craryville for at least a week.
Albert Nixon, an NTSB investigator, will be in charge of the investigation, which will include up to 14 team members.
Inman said the agency has obtained video of the crash, and added that the impact site is 100 yards in length and that the aircraft is intact, but buckled and embedded in the muddy, snow-covered field.
He said the plane appeared to be intact and was flying “at a high rate of descent into the ground.”
NTSB has retrieved data from the plane and is aware that the pilot had missed an initial approach to the airport in Hudson and was being redirected to make another approach. Inman said that air traffic control received a “low altitude report” from radar, but was unable to make contact with the pilot despite three attempts.
“There was no response from the pilot, and there was no distress call,” Nixon said.
Inman thanked the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance on the scene and after investigators arrived Saturday. He said there are no plans to release the video, and appealed to anyone who might have other video, eyewitness accounts or information to get in touch with the agency.
In a news conference on Saturday, Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore said the plane crash occurred in a muddy field on Two Town Road in the Craryville section near Route 23. The crash site is 10 miles from the Columbia County Airport.
Parties to the investigation include Mitsubishi, which manufactured the plane, and Honeywell, maker of the engines as well as the FAA and the air traffic controllers union.
Inman said the plane had been sold approximately one year ago, and that it had upgraded avionics. Its tail number is: NOV635TA, indicating it was manufactured in 1985.
As of Saturday afternoon, agencies on the scene included the Copake Fire District and rescue squads, along with State Police, the coroner and the Sheriff’s Department.
KENT — Jo-Anne H. Meeker of Kent-Cornwall Road, passed away on May 24, 2025, at home. She was the loving wife of the late Robert E. Boyden and the late John G. Meeker.
Jo-Anne was born May 15, 1933, in Stamford, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Henry and Genevieve Hoyt of Lempster, New Hampshire. She graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1951. Jo-Anne worked as a secretary in several medical fields before retiring from the New Milford Hospital Pathology Department.
Jo-Anne is survived by her sister, Charlotte and her husband Charles Pike, her children, Robert Boyden and his wife Caron, grandson Cade, Christina Boyden, Nicholas Boyden and his wife Devin, grandchildren Birdie and Hoyt Boyden.
Graveside service was held May 31, at Flanders Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kent Volunteer Fire Department 28 Maple St, Kent, CT in Jo-Anne’s honor.
The Kenny Funeral Home has taken care of arrangements.
TORRINGTON — Mrs. Faye H. (Harmon) Lawson, 88, of 116 Mill Lane, Torrington, died Monday, March 26, peacefully in her home. She was the wife of the late Peter G. Lawson. Mrs. Lawson was born on Jan. 15, 1937, a daughter of the late Leon and Evelyn (Bouton) Harmon.
Mrs. Lawson worked as a legal secretary and served on several boards and commissions in her community through the years. Faye spent her life living in the Northwest Corner enjoying the beauty and friendships she cultivated and treasured.She had a deep appreciation of creativity, curiosity, art, imagination and family. She was an avid gardener and took great joy and pride in the fruits of her labor.
She leaves as survivors her children; Lori A. Lawson of Torrington, James M. Lawson (wife Kathy) of Chesterfield, Massachusetts, and Abigail S. Lawson of Torrington; three grandsons, Graham, Taylor and Jordan Lawson; and her brothers Gordon E. Harmon (wife Marge) of Collinsville and Frederic “Rick” (wife Lisa) Harmon of Maitland, Florida. She is predeceased by her brother, Leon Harmon (wife Marion) of West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations may be sent toAnimalKind at PO Box 902, Hudson NY 12534-0902 or Connecticut State Police Academy Alumni Association at PO Box 1945, Meriden, CT06450-0899
To send the family online expressions of sympathy kindly visit www.thurstonrowefuneralhome.com
SHARON- — Anthony Costa, Jr., born on March 2, 1930, to Marian Cataldo Costa and Anthony Costa, Sr. in Fairfield, Connecticut, died surrounded by love on May 16, 2025. He was raised in Fairfield, attended the Fairfield public schools, and served as an altar boy at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.
Tony is survived by his loving wife, Dominica, his children; Janet (Thomas) O’Donnell, Jeffrey (Teresa) Costa, and Jonathan (Wendy) Costa, as well as seven grandchildren; Amy, Sean, Jonathan, Mary Kate, Carl, Jacob, and Hannah. He was formerly married to Shirley Wells, the mother of his children.
Tony attended New Haven State Teachers College, the first of his family to graduate from college.He went on to obtain a master’s degree in education at Fairfield University and began his extensive career in education, teaching at schools in Fairfield and Stratford. His teaching was interrupted by his service in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. Upon his return from Korea, he was named principal of the Sharon Center School in Sharon, Connecticut. In 1970, Tony became an Assistant Professor of Education at Fairfield University and subsequently became a full professor. He taught educational psychology, teacher preparation, and placed and supervised student teachers, influencing scores of future educators. After 47 years on the faculty, he retired in 2017 at the age of 87. During his time at Fairfield, Tony enjoyed many years as the university’s head golf coach, combining his love of the sport with his dedication to teaching. Not only did he instill a love of golf in those students on the golf team, but also in his family and friends.
In 1998, Tony married Dominica Schaller and cherished 38 years of joy and partnership with her. They traveled, attended the theatre, and nurtured invaluable friendships.
Tony was the epitome of grace and happiness. His smile, his warmth, and his compassion for and interest in people made all those whose lives he touched better for having known him.Tony was a gentleman, a loving husband to Dominica, a caring father to his children and grandchildren, a devoted friend, a golf enthusiast, a wearer of fedoras, and a man of substance. He will be truly missed.
A celebration of life will be held in Tony’s memory at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield, CT, on Saturday, June 21st, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Tony’s memory to First Tee-CT (www.firstteeconnecticut.org), a youth development organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of young people through the game of golf. All donations in Tony’s name will be earmarked for the Bridgeport, CT, chapter at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course.
MILLERTON — Marguerite C. “Peg” Brusie, 91, a fifty-three resident of Millerton, formerly of Copake,died peacefully on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon. She was employed by Sharon Hospital as a unit coordinator, retiring after twenty-six years of service. In 2010, she organized a reunion for the Sharon Hospital retiree’s which became an annual event.
Born Dec. 10, 1933, in Copake, she was the second daughter of the late Chester and Georgiana (Holmes) Pulver. On March 10, 1954 in Millerton, she married the love of her life, Howard J. Brusie. Mr. Brusie predeceased her on April 27, 2010.
Peg was an avid reader and knitter. She liked crafts of all kinds as well. She also enjoyed making floral and holiday arrangements for her family and friends. Her greatest joy was spending time with her beloved family.
Peg is survived by her daughter-in-law, Nancy Wells Brusie of Millerton; two granddaughters, Melissa Dipper and her companion Robert Matthews of Ancramdale, New York, and Amanda Dipper Hurn of Millerton; three great grandchildren, Byron Hurn of Philmont, New York and Lucia and Savannah Hurn of Millerton; her niece, Melissa Clum of Ancramdale; her nephew, William Clum also of Ancramdale; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Brusie of Copake Falls, New York and Karen Brusie of Hillsdale, New York and several nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her son, Howard J. Brusie, Jr. of Millerton on May 4, 2016, her sister and brother-in-law, Jeanette and William R. Clum of Copake and Ancramdale; her brother, Kenneth Pulver of Millerton; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Barbara and Gerald Cooper of Glendale, Massachusetts; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sheila and Louis Finger of Lincolndale, New York and two brothers-in-law, Gerald Brusie and Richard Brusie.
Graveside services and burial will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10 a.m. at Copake Cemetery, 1669 County Route 7A, Copake, NY. Rev. Zora Ficarra- Cheatham will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Peg’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
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