A physician, his daughter and his 2-year-old granddaughter were aboard the twin-engine aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff.
HARRIETSTOWN, N.Y. — Three generations of a New Jersey family, including a 2-year-old girl, died when a small plane crashed in a wooded area shortly after departing an airport in northern New York, authorities said.
New York State Police identified the pilot as Dr. Gabriele P. Jasper, 70, of Toms River. His passengers were his daughter, Gabriella M. Hillgrube, 33, of Forked River, and Hillgrube’s daughter, Guiliana M. Hillgrube, 2. All three died at the scene of the July 13 crash near Adirondack Regional Airport.
The deaths left relatives, friends and professional colleagues mourning members of one family whose lives spanned three generations. Jasper was a physician who practiced pain management and spine care in New Jersey, while Hillgrube worked at the medical practice he founded, according to published reports and the practice’s website.
State police said the 1976 Piper Aerostar departed Adirondack Regional Airport at about 10:36 p.m. The aircraft was estimated to be about 100 feet above the ground when communication was lost shortly after takeoff.
Authorities were notified of a downed aircraft at about 11:15 p.m. in the area of Hearf’s Way and state Route 186. Police, firefighters, forest rangers and other emergency personnel began searching the wooded area surrounding the airport.
A police drone detected a small fire early the next morning, helping search crews locate the wreckage in a remote area between McMaster Road and Route 186. State police said the aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a fire that followed the crash.
Jasper founded the Jasper Spine Institute, which operates offices in Brick and Milltown, New Jersey. The practice describes its work as focused on minimally invasive treatments for back and neck conditions. Published accounts said Jasper was also an anesthesiologist and had received professional recognition for his work in spine procedures.
Hillgrube worked with her father at the institute, according to local reporting. Public social media posts showed the family spending time together, but authorities released few details about why they had traveled to the Adirondacks or where they intended to fly after leaving the airport.
The crash occurred near Lake Clear in the town of Harrietstown, northwest of the village of Saranac Lake. The airport serves communities and visitors in the Adirondack region, where forested land and mountainous terrain surround many local flight routes.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The NTSB will lead the inquiry into why the aircraft went down, and officials had not announced a cause as of Friday. Such investigations commonly examine the aircraft, flight information, weather, maintenance records and the pilot’s experience before a preliminary report is issued.
Author note: Last updated July 17, 2026.