Karenna Groff, Former NCAA Woman of the Year, Among Six Killed in New York Plane Crash

Karenna Groff, a standout athlete, scholar, and 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, tragically died in a plane crash on April 12, 2025, in Copake, New York. The 25-year-old MIT graduate was traveling with family members aboard a small aircraft when it went down just miles from its destination. All six people on board were killed in the crash.

What Happened: Details of the Tragic Crash

The aircraft involved was a Mitsubishi MU-2B turboprop, piloted by Groff’s father, Dr. Michael Groff, a respected neurosurgeon and Harvard Medical School professor. The plane took off from Westchester County Airport and was en route to Columbia County Airport, just outside Hudson, New York. The family was headed to the Catskills to celebrate a birthday and Passover.

According to preliminary reports, the pilot requested a missed approach and a new landing vector moments before the aircraft vanished from radar. Air traffic control issued several low-altitude alerts, but no further communication was received. The plane crashed in a remote field near Copake, killing all six aboard.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is actively investigating the incident. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a full investigation could take up to two years.

Victims of the Crash

The six people lost in the crash were:

Karenna Groff, 25 — MIT graduate, All-American soccer player, and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year.
Dr. Michael Groff, her father — A leading neurosurgeon and associate professor at Harvard.
Dr. Joy Saini, her mother — A urogynecologist and medical professional.
Jared Groff, her brother — A Swarthmore College graduate and paralegal.
Alexia Couyutas Duarte, Jared’s partner — A fellow Swarthmore alumna preparing to enter Harvard Law School.
James Santoro, Karenna’s boyfriend — An MIT graduate and investment associate. The couple had plans to get engaged this summer.

Karenna Groff’s Remarkable Legacy

Karenna Groff was more than an exceptional student-athlete—she was a visionary leader. During her time at MIT, she earned All-American honors in soccer, maintained academic excellence, and made a lasting impact on her community. Her selection as NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022 was a reflection of her multifaceted achievements.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Groff co-founded openPPE, a company dedicated to producing protective equipment for frontline workers. Her drive to serve extended beyond sports and academics. At the time of her passing, she was studying medicine at NYU, continuing her lifelong goal of helping others through healthcare innovation.

Community Mourning and Investigation Efforts

Communities from MIT, NCAA sports, medical institutions, and beyond have been mourning the tremendous loss. Friends, teammates, professors, and mentors have remembered Karenna as a brilliant, compassionate, and driven young woman whose presence left a deep imprint wherever she went.

The NTSB investigation will include a full review of the flight path, weather conditions, maintenance records, and pilot history. While the full report may take over a year to complete, officials hope it will bring clarity to what led to the tragic crash.

A Life That Inspired Many

Karenna Groff’s life was defined by excellence, compassion, and impact. Her story resonates not just because of her accolades, but because of the values she embodied—resilience, leadership, and service. As tributes pour in from across the nation, it is clear that her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of student-athletes, innovators, and caregivers.

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Karenna Groff, Former NCAA Woman of the Year, Dies in Plane Crash