A family of five from Georgia tragically lost their lives in a small plane crash in upstate New York after attending a baseball tournament in Cooperstown. The victims, identified as Harrison VanEpps, 10, James VanEpps, 12, Ryan VanEpps, 42, Laura VanEpps, 43, and Roger Beggs, 76, were killed on Sunday afternoon near Lake Cecil Road in the town of Masonville, according to New York State Police.
The family had been in Cooperstown, known for its National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, to support the 12-year-old James VanEpps in a baseball tournament. The plane, a single-engine Piper PA-46, departed from Albert S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta, New York, and was en route to West Virginia for refueling before heading to its final destination at Cobb County International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.
The crash site was discovered after a coordinated search effort involving multiple agencies, including the use of drones, all-terrain vehicles, and helicopters. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash. The NTSB has called for witness reports to aid in the investigation.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his condolences, calling the incident “tragic” and asking the public to join him in praying for the loved ones of the Beggs and VanEpps families. “We offer our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved them,” the governor added.
The family was returning to Georgia after the tournament when the accident occurred. Jim VanEpps, the father of Ryan VanEpps and grandfather to James and Harrison, described the loss as a “massive tragedy” for the family. He shared that his grandsons were excelling in school and sports, with Harrison being an up-and-coming lacrosse player. “Ryan and Laura supported their boys in whatever endeavor they wanted to do,” he said.
Roger Beggs, who held a pilot’s license, had volunteered to fly the family to upstate New York and watched the tournament with them. The plane was headed to Cobb County International Airport in Atlanta with a planned fueling stop in West Virginia when it crashed.
The FAA and NTSB are working together to determine the cause of the crash. The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Collision Reconstruction Unit, and Forensic Identification Unit are also involved in the investigation.
The small town of Cooperstown, with its deep ties to baseball history, attracts visitors from around the world each summer. The tragic accident has cast a shadow over the community, which is known for its love of the game and its historic significance as the birthplace of baseball.
The loss of the VanEpps and Beggs family members has deeply affected their community in Georgia. Friends and neighbors have expressed their shock and sorrow, remembering the family as loving and supportive. The boys were known for their enthusiasm and dedication to sports, and their parents were always there to cheer them on.
As the investigation continues, the community is left to mourn the loss of five lives cut tragically short. The VanEpps and Beggs families are remembered for their love, support, and dedication to each other and their passions.
Source: Fox News, NBC News, Associated Press, CNN
