Tragic Plane Crash In New York Claims Lives Of Georgia Family

A devastating plane crash in New York resulted in the deaths of a family of five from Georgia. The incident occurred as they were returning from a baseball tournament.

The family, traveling in a single-engine Piper Malibu Mirage, was en route to Charleston, West Virginia, when the plane crashed in a wooded area near Masonville, New York. The crash site is about 100 miles southwest of Albany. The exact cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.

The family planned to make a brief stop in Charleston to refuel before continuing to Atlanta, their final destination. New York State Police discovered the wreckage and confirmed the deaths of all five passengers on Sunday afternoon.

The victims were identified as Roger Beggs, 76, Laura VanEpps, 43, Ryan VanEpps, 42, James R. VanEpps, 12, and Harrison VanEpps, 10. They had traveled from Georgia to Cooperstown, New York, for a baseball tournament.

Governor Brian P. Kemp of Georgia expressed his condolences on social media, 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.”

An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was scheduled to arrive at the crash site on Monday afternoon to begin examining the scene and the wreckage. All materials recovered from the site will be taken to a secure location for further analysis.

Investigators will assess various factors to determine the cause of the crash, including the pilot’s background, the aircraft’s condition, and the operational environment, which includes the weather at the time of the incident.