Two people are dead and two are missing after a plane carrying a mega-mansion builder and his wife along with two others crashed off the coast of the Hamptons.
Ben Krupinski, who has built and renovated homes for the likes of Martha Stewart and Billy Joel, and his wife Bonnie were on the private aircraft when it went down off Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett on Saturday afternoon.
The married couple, who are popular among residents of the affluent New York summer destination, were in a Piper PA31 Navajo aircraft when it crashed, according to 27 East, a local Hamptons news source.
The pilot flying the aircraft was Jon Kenneth Dollard, who is an instrument rated commercial flyer.
The aircraft was about one mile away from the airport when it lost contact with the East Hampton Tower, the East Hampton Police Department said.
The Coast Guard found two bodies on board and are desperately searching for two more that are missing in the surrounding water.
Mr Krupinski’s work with celebrity chef and lifestyle expert Stewart have raised eyebrows in the past.
His daughter Laura accused them of having an affair when she saw them getting close on a vacation in Florida.
Two people have been confirmed dead and two remain missing after a private plane owned by and carrying custom builder Ben Krupinski (left) and his wife, Bonnie (second from right) crashed on Saturday off the coast of the Hamptons into the Atlantic Ocean
Laura Krupinski accused her father of having an affair with the home living industry giant, after claiming to have spotted the two of them getting close in Palm Beach, where the Krupinski’s own a home, on a group vacation.
The builder’s daughter kept it to herself for a few years, she said, before revealing her suspicions to her mother, Bonnie, in March of 2013.
But sharing her secret cost her, she said, because her father cut her $26,000 monthly allowance, her mother refused to speak to her, and the two of them kicked her out of her Bedform home after making the claim.


Ben Krupinski (right) was accused by his daughter, Laura, in March of 2013 of having an affair with Martha Stewart (left), after the daughter claimed to have spotted the two of them getting close on Palm Beach in Florida on a group vacation years earlier

Ben Krupinski made a name for himself building and renovating homes for A-listers

This three-story retreat is one of the many homes that Krupinski worked on in East Hampton
Faithful or not, Mr Krupinski made a quite nice life for his family constructing the residences of the rich and famous in the Hamptons.
A New York Times article from 1992 called the area ‘Krupinskiland,’ and described it as containing ‘sprawling houses with attitude that look as if they are sprawled out on lounge chairs with a masseuse and a pina colada.’
In the article, Stewart is mentioned twice, first for having Krupinski on a job at that time, and secondly in a quote calling the builder, ‘Extraordinary!’ in reference to his sense of perfection while renovating Stewart’s 24-room home.
In the same write-up, advertising executive and client-turned-friend Jerry Della Femina says, ‘In East Hampton, Ben’s the star.’
He added: ‘You walk into a restaurant and everyone’s looking up and saying, “It’s Ben! It’s Ben Krupinski!’

Stewart is quoted as calling calling the builder, ‘Extraordinary!’ in reference to his sense of perfection while renovating her 24-room home in the Hamptons, shown here in a 2009 photo

Another luxurious mansion that Krupinski worked on is shown here, with a wrap-around porch
In addition to Mr Krupinski’s building business, the family owns dozens of commercial real estate properties in both East Hampton and Southampton.
Their three restaurants in East Hampton include the 1770 House on Main Street, Cittanuova on Newtown Lane, and the restaurant, hotel, marina complex East Hampton Point on Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Road.
Ms Krupinski’s family, the Bistrians (who are one of the largest landowners in East Hampton Town, co-own the exclusive East Hampton Gold Club with Ben and Bonnie.
It’s not yet known which of the passengers’ bodies has been found.

This modern home is another piece of property credited to the beloved Ben Krupinski

One person has been confirmed dead after a small plane carrying four people crashed on Saturday off the coast of the Hamptons in the Atlantic Ocean, which is the area seen here
The first victim who was confirmed dead was found by East Hampton Lifeguards on the beach, Ryan O’Hare of Coast Guard Station Montauk said.
Coast Guard Cutter Bonito recovered a second body from the water near the crash site, as officials continue to search for the other two passengers.
‘We are stricken by this loss,’ Captain Kevin Reed, a commander at Sector Long Island Sound, said in a press release. ‘Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of the two recovered individuals.’
The crash occurred at around 2.50pm Eastern on Saturday.
Crews aboard two commercial fishing boats in the area were asked to join in the search by authorities, according to Newsday.
The cause of the crash has yet to be determined, but O’Hare noted that the plane went down around the same time that thunderstorms entered the area.

Members of the New York State park police are seen here near the scene of the plane crash in the ocean off Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett, New York on Saturday

The aircraft went down about one mile off the shore of Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate, along with local authorities, and the NTSB will determine the cause of the crash.
Units responding to the call put in to Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound included the United States Coast Guard, the Air National Guard, East Hampton Town police dive team, and the East Hampton Ocean Rescue Squad.
Beaches from East Hampton Main Beach to Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett have been closed to the public while the rescue effort continues.
Anyone with information regarding the crash is encouraged to contact the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center at 203-468-4401 or on the radio at VHF-FM marine radio channel-16.

Police and the US Coast Guard were on the scene where the Piper PA31 aircraft (a file photo of which is seen here) is believed to have went down, and were searching through debris