Weather is now being looked at very closely in connection with Saturday’s deadly plane crash in Copake, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

They gave a briefing on Monday afternoon.

Six people were killed in the crash, when the plane went down in a muddy field around lunchtime on Saturday.

“What we can say is weather was at that time what we consider to be deteriorating,” according to Todd Inman, with the NTSB.

At 12:06 p.m. on the day of the accident, weather conditions recorded by the New York State Mesonet in Copake revealed a temperature of 36.9 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind chill of 29.1 degrees.

The dewpoint was measured at 31.2 degrees, with winds ranging between 8 and 10 miles per hour, gusting up to 20 miles per hour. On the same day, various regions experienced precipitation, including slushy wet snow and rainfall, accumulating over half an inch since midnight.

The combination of near-freezing temperatures, rain, and gusty winds may have created hazardous flying conditions, contributing to the plane crash.

Additionally, at higher altitudes, temperatures typically drop, which could exacerbate the situation.

The plane had taken off around 9:30 a.m. Saturday from Norwood Memorial and arrived in White Plains at 10:19 a.m., investigators said. It then left White Plains at 11:34 en route to Columbia County Airport, before it was lost on air traffic control screens.

The type of Mitsubishi plane that crashed also requires additional training beyond a normal pilot’s license, according to the FAA. The pilot had this training, they said.

The investigation will involve multiple parties, including the engine manufacturer and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Japanese Safety Board has also been authorized to help, since the plane was made in Japan. The team is being led by Albert Nixon, who has extensive experience in aviation. NTSB investigators expect to be in the plane crash area for another five days or so.

The team has utilized drone technology for aerial mapping of the wreckage and is conducting thorough documentation with assistance from local authorities.

The plane wreckage will eventually be moved. The engines will be torn down in Phoenix. Part of the wreckage will also be moved to a secure facility in Massachusetts.

The NTSB is also interviewing air traffic control specialists and has begun collecting avionics data from the aircraft to assess equipment performance during the flight.

As the investigation evolves, further updates will be provided based on findings and interviews conducted over the next week.

“Our objective is not just to find out what happened, but why it happened, so we can make recommendations so this does not happen again,” Inman said. “We hope to have the preliminary report out in 30 days and the final report in 12 to 24 months.”

NewsChannel 13 will continue to follow this story. We will bring you updates on WNYT.com and our later newscasts