NTSB releases preliminary report from triple-fatal plane crash near Saranac Lake

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report from the triple-fatal plane crash near Saranac Lake earlier this month. On July 13, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N800AA went down shortly after takeoff around 10:30 p.m. The pilot and two passengers did not survive. According to the NTSB, it was classified as a private flight. Earlier on the night of the crash, the pilot flew from Belmar, New Jersey, to the Adirondack Regional Airport without incident. He planned to pick up two family members and fly back to New Jersey that same evening. The NTSB said that the outbound flight reached a maximum height of about 125 ft above ground level before descending and leveling off around 75 feet. Officials said it didn't gain enough altitude for the FAA to collect data, but third-party commercial surveillance and the wreckage path revealed that the flight departed the runway at 10:35 p.m. and disappeared from view about 45 seconds later. According to the NTSB, the plane came to a rest about one mile from the end of the runway. A review of home security video near the accident site revealed an engine sound at 10:36 p.m., followed by the sound of collision with trees. The cockpit and cabin were consumed by fire. Both engines were located near the main wreckage and both propellers were still attached to their respective engines. According to the NTSB, the pilot held a private license with more than 1,000 documented flight hours as of December 2025. The plane was last inspected in February of 2026. The NTSB has retained the wreckage for further examination.