A heart-wrenching incident occurred as a family of five from Georgia tragically lost their lives in a plane crash. The family was on their way back from a memorable baseball tournament in Cooperstown, known for its National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
According to the New York State Police, the ill-fated single-engine plane, a Piper Malibu Mirage, took off from Oneonta Municipal Airport on Sunday. It unfortunately crashed in Masonville, roughly 90 miles southeast of Syracuse.
The victims were identified as 76-year-old pilot Roger Beggs, Laura VanEpps, aged 43, Ryan VanEpps, aged 42, and their children James R. VanEpps, 12, and Harrison VanEpps, 10.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his profound condolences on X, saying, “As we learn of this tragic news, please join Marty, the girls, and me in praying for the loved ones of the Beggs and VanEpps families. We offer our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved them.”
Local authorities were informed about a possible crash around 2 p.m. on Sunday. A diligent search in the Lake Cecil Road vicinity ensued, employing helicopters, drones, and ATVs. These exhaustive efforts eventually led to the discovery of the crash site and the wrecked plane.
According to reports, the family had planned a brief refueling stop in West Virginia before proceeding to their destination in Atlanta.
The weight of the loss was deeply felt by their loved ones, with Ryan VanEpps’ sister, Ansley, voicing her heartbreak and sorrow for her departed family members.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and state police are rigorously investigating the cause of the crash to unravel the series of events that led to this tragedy.
The National Transportation Safety Board indicated that there was “storm activity” in the flight path, which could have contributed to the disaster.
This tragic event extends a wave of sorrow that touches us all. Our heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with the families and friends left in mourning. May they find peace and comfort in this trying time.
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