MASONVILLE, NY – A family of five from Georgia, including two children, lost their lives in a plane crash that took place in upstate New York on Sunday, according to police reports. The family was returning to Atlanta after participating in a baseball tournament that was held in Cooperstown, New York.
The adult victims have been identified by the authorities as 76-year-old Roger Beggs, 43-year-old Laura VanEpps, and 42-year-old Ryan VanEpps. The children involved in the fatal crash have been identified as 12-year-old James R. VanEpps and 10-year-old Harrison VanEpps.
The crash eventuated around 2 p.m. near Lake Cecil Road in Masonville, New York. The downed aircraft, a Piper Malibu Mirage, a single-engine plane, was located following a multi-agency search involving drones, ATVs, and helicopters.
The plane originally took off from Alfred S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta, New York, intending to stopover at West Virginia for refuelling before proceeding to its final destination, Cobb County International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.
The cause of the accident has yet to be established. A collaborative investigation between the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Forensic Identification Unit, the Collision Reconstruction Unit, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Board (NTSB) is underway.