What happened
On April 12, 2025, at approximately 12:03 EDT, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, registration N635TA, crashed near Copake, New York, resulting in 6 fatal injuries. The aircraft was operating as a Part 91 personal flight.
According to FAA ADS-B data and voice communications, the flight departed Westchester County Airport (HPN) at 11:34 and was traveling toward Columbia County Airport (1B1). After reaching a maximum cruise altitude of 16,000 ft MSL, the pilot was cleared to descend to 6,000 ft MSL for an RNAV (GPS) approach to runway 3. At 11:57:52, the pilot notified the Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that a missed approach was in progress and requested vectors for a different approach.
Following instructions from the controller to climb and maintain 4,000 ft MSL and execute specific turns, the pilot acknowledged clearance to cross the initial approach fix (PUCBY) at 4,000 ft MSL. Shortly after, the controller issued a low altitude alert and requested the pilot check the aircraft's altitude. The pilot did not respond, and radar contact was lost at 12:03:55.
ADS-B data indicated that during the missed approach, the aircraft's groundspeed fluctuated between 91 and 189 knots while maintaining an altitude between 3,800 ft and 3,975 ft MSL. At 12:02:22, the aircraft began a right turn to the southwest, followed by a descent approximately 34 seconds later. The final data point recorded the aircraft at 2,150 ft MSL with a groundspeed of 118 knots.
Security camera footage from the area showed the aircraft descending from a low overcast cloud layer in a steep descent before impacting the terrain. At the time of the accident, weather conditions included IMC, with AIRMETs in effect for IFR conditions, mountain obscuration, low-level wind shear, and moderate icing between 1,500 ft and 17,000 ft MSL.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site showed the aircraft impacted snow-covered terrain on a magnetic heading of approximately 290° in a nose-down attitude. The impact occurred about 500 ft north of the final ADS-B target. The wreckage was scattered within a 150-foot radius, with the fuselage fragmented into multiple sections. While the wings remained attached to the fuselage, they were buckled throughout their span. The empennage, including the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and horizontal stabilizers, remained partially attached to the fuselage. All major components were located within the debris area, and the wreckage was moved to a secure facility for further examination.