Dr. Gabriel P. Jasper, 70, of Toms River, New Jersey, his daughter Gabriella M. Hillgrube, 33, of Forked River, New Jersey, and his 2-year-old granddaughter, Guiliana M. Hillgrube, were killed Monday night in a tragic small plane crash in Harrietstown, New York.
According to New York State Police, the family members died after the aircraft crashed shortly after departing from Adirondack Regional Airport. Dr. Jasper, a well-respected physician and spine specialist, was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.
Authorities said the 1976 Piper Aerostar took off from the airport at approximately 10:36 p.m. Monday. Investigators reported that the aircraft climbed to an estimated altitude of about 100 feet above the ground before communication with the plane was lost.
Emergency responders located the wreckage a short time later after the aircraft crashed and caught fire. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, and all three occupants were pronounced dead.
The crash occurred in Harrietstown, located in Franklin County near the village of Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondack Mountains.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and New York State Police. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the accident, and additional information is expected as the investigation progresses.
The deaths of Dr. Jasper, Gabriella Hillgrube, and Guiliana Hillgrube have left family, friends, and communities in New Jersey and New York mourning the loss of three members of the same family.
