This information is preliminary and subject to change.
Update: 9 May 2025
Read the Investigation Preliminary Report
On April 12, 2025, about 1203 eastern daylight time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, N635TA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Copake, New York. The pilot and five passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
A review of preliminary ADS-B data and archived voice communication information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the airplane departed Westchester County Airport (HPN), White Plains, New York, about 1134, and flew on a northeast to northern track towards their planned destination of Columbia County Airport (1B1), Hudson, New York. The data showed that the airplane reached a maximum cruise altitude of about 16,000 ft mean sea level (msl).
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted snow covered terrain on a magnetic heading of about 290° in a nose down attitude about 500 ft north from the last ADS-B target. Fragments of the airplane were scattered throughout a radius of about 150 ft surrounding the main wreckage. All major components of the airplane were contained within the wreckage debris area. The fuselage was mostly fragmented and separated into multiple sections. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, horizontal stabilizers and elevators, were partially attached to the empennage. The empennage remained partially attached to the fuselage. Both wings were attached to the fuselage and were buckled throughout their span.
The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
Images are available on NTSB's Flickr
