The twin-engine aircraft lost communication at low altitude before search crews found its burned wreckage several hours later.
HARRIETSTOWN, N.Y. — Federal investigators are working to determine why a twin-engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Adirondack Regional Airport, killing a pilot and two passengers in a wooded area of northern New York.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the July 13 crash of a 1976 Aerostar. New York State Police said the plane left the airport at about 10:36 p.m. and lost communication while it was estimated to be only about 100 feet above the ground.
The crash killed pilot Dr. Gabriele P. Jasper, 70, of Toms River, New Jersey, along with his daughter, Gabriella M. Hillgrube, 33, of Forked River, and Hillgrube’s 2-year-old daughter, Guiliana M. Hillgrube. Authorities said all three died at the scene.
Police were notified at about 11:15 p.m. that an aircraft had gone down near Hearf’s Way and state Route 186. The report prompted a multiagency search involving state troopers, local fire departments, Saranac Lake police and forest rangers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The nighttime search covered forested land near the airport in the town of Harrietstown. A state police drone detected a small fire at about 2:06 a.m., according to published accounts citing police. Troopers and forest rangers then reached the aircraft in a remote area between McMaster Road and Route 186.
State police said the plane had been destroyed by the impact and the fire that followed. Authorities restricted access to part of the surrounding area while investigators examined the site and gathered material from the wreckage.
The FAA said three people were aboard and that the NTSB would take charge of the investigation. Federal investigators had not released a probable cause as of Friday, and no official finding had been announced about whether weather, mechanical problems, pilot actions or another factor contributed to the crash.
The early phase of an aviation investigation generally focuses on documenting the accident scene and collecting records tied to the aircraft and flight. Investigators may review air traffic communications, available tracking data, weather conditions, maintenance history and information about the pilot. Any findings remain preliminary until the agency completes its review.
The crash was one of several small-aircraft accidents reported in the Adirondack region within less than a week. A pilot died in a separate crash at Piseco Airport, while occupants escaped injury in another accident involving a seaplane on Lake George, according to regional news reports. Officials have not announced evidence linking the events.
Adirondack Regional Airport is located near Lake Clear, northwest of Saranac Lake. The surrounding region includes large areas of forest and mountainous terrain, but investigators have not said whether the landscape played any role in this crash.
The NTSB is expected to issue preliminary information before completing a final report, a process that can take months or longer. Until investigators release their findings, the reason the plane lost communication and crashed shortly after leaving the airport remains unknown.
Author note: Last updated July 17, 2026.