NTSB: Plane that crashed, killing 3 from NJ, reached about 125 feet after Adirondack takeoff
Preliminary report details the final moments of a crash that killed a Toms River pilot and two family members.
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A twin-engine airplane based in New Jersey climbed to about 125 feet before descending and crashing into trees shortly after taking off from Adirondack Regional Airport, killing a Toms River pilot and two family members, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The July 13 crash killed pilot Gabriele P. Jasper, 70, of Toms River, Gabriella M. Hillgrube, 33, of Forked River, and 2-year-old Guiliana M. Hillgrube, also of Forked River. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the NTSB, the 1976 Smith Aerostar 601P was based at Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall Township and had flown earlier that evening to Adirondack Regional Airport in Saranac Lake. The pilot intended to pick up two family members and return to New Jersey that night.
Commercial surveillance data showed the airplane departed Runway 23 at 10:35 p.m. and reached a maximum altitude of about 125 feet above ground level before descending and leveling off at about 75 feet for the final 12 seconds of recorded flight. During that time, its groundspeed increased from 151 knots to 169 knots.
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The last recorded position placed the airplane about 1 mile beyond the departure end of the runway. A nearby home security camera captured the sound of an engine followed by the sound of the aircraft striking trees, investigators said.
First responders located the wreckage about four hours later. A post-impact fire had consumed most of the airplane.
Investigators found a debris path beginning with part of the right wingtip about 1 mile beyond the runway. The debris field extended about a half-mile through a forest to the main wreckage.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with multiengine and instrument ratings and had reported 1,025 hours of total flight experience during a December 2025 FAA medical examination.
The wreckage has been retained for further examination and the NTSB is leading the investigation.
