Local News
No Survivors After Plane Crashes in Copake
Copake, N.Y. — The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is leading an investigation into a fatal plane crash that occurred Saturday afternoon in the town of Copake.
According to officials, the crash took place shortly before noon near Two Town Road, where a small aircraft went down in the middle of an open field.
During a press briefing, Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore confirmed that emergency crews responded to the remote crash site, but muddy terrain has complicated access for first responders.
The aircraft is believed to be a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, with tail number N635TA, registered to Dynamic Spine Solutions LLC.
Authorities confirmed that two individuals were on board at the time of the crash.
However, details regarding the number of fatalities, identities of the occupants, or the flight’s point of origin have not been released pending notification of next of kin and further investigation.
The plane was reportedly en route to the Columbia County Airport when it went down. Officials said that no buildings were damaged and no other aircraft were involved in the incident.
Multiple agencies are assisting in the investigation, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New York State Police, and the Columbia County Coroner’s Office. Authorities stated that the investigation is in its early stages and could take several days to complete.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or captured video footage of the incident to come forward.
Individuals can contact investigators at (518) 828-3344.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
Authorities have released the identities of the three individuals who tragically lost their lives in a small plane crash near the Boca Raton Airport on Friday, April 11.
According to the Boca Raton Police Services Department, the victims were members of the same family:
- Robert Stark, 81, of Boca Raton
- Stephen Stark, 54, of Delray Beach
- Brooke Stark, 17, of Delray Beach
All three were on board the ill-fated aircraft when it went down shortly after takeoff.
The sole individual injured on the ground, Pablo Tafur, 24, was identified as the driver of a Toyota that was struck during the crash.
His injuries were reported as non-life-threatening.
The crash, which occurred around 10:12 a.m., sent a fireball and heavy plumes of smoke into the air, visible from surrounding neighborhoods, schools, and businesses.
Graphic video footage from the scene showed the wreckage engulfed in flames, with bodies visible near the debris.
The aircraft involved was a Cessna 310R, tail number N8930N, built in 1977 and registered to REPROP LLC, a company based in Wilmington, Delaware.
The plane had departed Boca Raton en route to Tallahassee and had been airborne for approximately 8 to 10 minutes before it crashed near the intersection of Military Trail and Glades Road, close to Florida Atlantic University and a busy commercial area.
During a Friday evening press briefing, Kurt Gibson, an aviation accident investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated that a full investigation is underway.
“We’ll be looking into three primary areas: the pilot, including their qualifications and recent history; the aircraft’s maintenance and records; and environmental conditions at the time of the crash,” Gibson explained.
Data from FlightAware showed the plane performed several circular maneuvers before impact, indicating the pilot may have been experiencing difficulties.
The aircraft will be moved to a salvage facility for further inspection.
The NTSB confirmed that a preliminary report will be released within 30 days, while the final report could take 12 to 24 months to complete. The crash has prompted closures in the area, including a portion of North Military Trail and nearby train tracks.
Authorities are urging residents and commuters to avoid the area until further notice.
This tragic incident marks a somber moment for the Boca Raton community as investigators work to determine the exact cause of the crash and bring closure to the families affected.