COLUMBIA COUNTY, N.Y. — A neurosurgeon at Rochester Regional Health and his family have been identified as the victims of a small plane crash that happened north of Albany on Saturday.

Dr. Michael Groff, executive medical director of neurosciences, died in the crash. His colleagues at RRH described him as a highly respected neurosurgeon who had an unwavering commitment to his patients.

In total, six people died when Groff’s private plane crashed on Saturday afternoon, 10 miles away from the Columbia County Airport where it was supposed to land. That included the doctor’s wife, Boston surgeon and urogynecologist Dr. Joy Saini. The couple’s daughter, Karenna Groff, along with her brother, Jared Groff, also died.

Karenna Groff was the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year and an MIT All-American soccer player. Her partner, MIT graduate James Santoro, was also among the victims. Jared Groff, a Swarthmore College graduate, worked as a paralegal. His partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, who was also a victim, planned to attend Harvard Law School in the fall.

The family was headed to the Catskills for a birthday celebration and the Passover holiday. Shortly before the crash, the pilot had radioed air traffic control at Columbia County Airport to say he had missed the initial approach and requested a new approach plan. The family had left from Westchester County Airport in White Plains. Dr. Groff, was an experienced pilot who family members say learned to fly when he was just 16 years old.

The NTSB says it will have a preliminary report in about a month. But to comb through everything and get the full story, the NTSB says it expects the report to take one to two years.

The NTSB says it examines every piece of the process, from the weather to communications to the equipment. It has already walked the scene with Mitsubishi, who makes the plane, and Honeywell, who makes the engine. The union that represents air traffic control is also involved. On top of giving closure, the main goal is to prevent this from happening again.

Rochester Regional Health released this statement on its website on the death of Dr. Groff:

“Dr. Groff was a highly respected neurosurgeon and physician leader, known for his clinical excellence, compassionate care, and unwavering commitment to advancing the field of neuroscience. His contributions to our health system and to the patients he served were immeasurable. We are in contact with Dr. Groff’s family and ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.”