A tragic plane crash on June 30 claimed the lives of a family of five traveling to upstate New York for a youth baseball tournament. The family was aboard a single-engine Piper Malibu Mirage that departed from Oneonta Municipal Airport in central New York. The aircraft crashed in Masonville, New York, approximately 90 miles southeast of Syracuse.
The victims were identified as Roger Beggs, 76; Laura VanEpps, 43; Ryan VanEpps, 42; James R. VanEpps, 12; and Harrison VanEpps, 10. They had been returning to Georgia after attending a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, New York, home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Local police received a notification of a suspected crash around 2 p.m. on Sunday and initiated a search in the Lake Cecil Road area using helicopters, drones, and ATVs. The crash site and the downed plane were located after an extensive search effort.
Roger Beggs was reportedly the pilot. The flight plan indicated a stop to refuel in West Virginia before continuing to Atlanta. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his condolences on Twitter, writing, “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.”
Ryan VanEpps’ sister, Ansley, shared her grief over the loss of her family members. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and state police are investigating the cause of the crash.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the VanEpps family and friends during this tragic time.