A plane crash in the Hudson Valley over the weekend killed all six people aboard, devastating a family described by those who knew them as gifted, close-knit and devoted to helping others.The victims included two surgeons, two of their children and the children's partners—all en route to celebrate a birthday and Passover when the aircraft went down near Copake, New York.Their twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B crashed in a muddy field about 10 miles south of Columbia County Airport, its intended destination, around noon on April 12.Plane Safety in Spotlight AgainAuthorities with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the crash investigation could take more than a year to complete.The tragedy is focusing renewed attention on the safety of private aircraft flights in inclement weather, particularly for smaller planes. Investigators are considering whether weather conditions played a role.According to the NTSB, the pilot had requested a new approach plan after missing his initial approach and did not respond to three successive low-altitude alerts.The NTSB reported that the aircraft was "compressed, buckled and embedded in the terrain" and that video of the final seconds showed the plane was intact before it crashed into the ground at high speed.Groff Family OnboardDr. Michael Groff, a neurosurgeon and veteran pilot, was flying the plane when it crashed. His wife, two children and their partners were also aboard.He trained at the University of Pittsburgh, where he met his wife, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist and the founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness. Both were practicing physicians in the Boston area.According to The New York Times, Michael Groff was a licensed pilot with extensive flight experience, and the plane had recently received upgrades to meet Federal Aviation Administration standards.Their daughter, Karenna Groff, was a standout MIT soccer player and medical student at NYU Langone, recognized as the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022 for both her athletic and academic achievements.She was celebrated for her service during the COVID-19 pandemic after co-founding openPPE, a nonprofit that developed improved mask designs for health care workers.After graduating from MIT with a degree in biomedical engineering, she studied medicine in Manhattan and lived with James Santoro, a former MIT lacrosse player who worked in finance and was also onboard the plane.Jared Groff, Karenna Groff's brother, and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, were both Swarthmore College graduates and had planned to enter law school this fall, with Duarte accepted to Harvard.The family departed Westchester County Airport on Saturday morning. According to The New York Times, they were planning to gather for a Passover Seder and celebrate Karenna Groff's 25th birthday.Tributes to Crash Victims"The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity," said John Santoro, James Santoro's father, in a statement to the Associated Press. "We're all personally devastated."Jonathan Becker, a family friend and the vice president at Bard College, described the six victims as "brilliant, dynamic and loving people" in a statement to The New York Times.What Happens NextThe NTSB said its team would remain on-site for about a week, but a full report could take between 12 and 24 months. Meanwhile, funeral arrangements are underway.As the investigation unfolds, attention is likely to remain on both the technical aspects of the crash and the extraordinary lives lost in an instant.This article uses reporting by the Associated Press.