3 Killed as Piper Aerostar Crashes After Night Takeoff Near Saranac Lake

Three people were killed July 13 when a 1976 Piper Aerostar 601P, registration N800AA, struck rising terrain shortly after a night takeoff from Adirondack Regional Airport (KSLK) near Saranac Lake, N.Y. The New York State Police identified the victims as pilot Dr. Gabriele P. Jasper, 70, of Toms River, N.J., and passengers Gabriella M. Hillgrube, 33, and Guiliana M. Hillgrube, 2, both of Forked River, N.J.

According to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report, the aircraft departed Runway 23 at approximately 10:35 p.m. local time. Surveillance video and ADS-B data indicate the Aerostar never climbed above roughly 125 feet AGL before descending to approximately 75 feet AGL and impacting wooded terrain. Wreckage was located about two miles northwest of the airport near the Adirondack Rail Trail; the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire.

Investigators found no immediate evidence of engine failure — both engines remained attached to the airframe, and home security audio captured continuous engine noise until the moment of impact. The aircraft had completed an uneventful flight from Belmar, N.J., earlier that day and had passed its most recent annual inspection in February 2026. While the NTSB has not yet assigned a probable cause, aviation analysts note the data is consistent with controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), a scenario that can occur during night VFR operations when pilots misjudge altitude or climb gradient against dark, rising terrain. The investigation is ongoing.