Tragedy struck Upstate New York on Sunday when a single-engine aircraft crashed in Delaware County, claiming the lives of five people; four of whom were part of a family from Georgia.
The victims were in the region for a baseball tournament in Cooperstown.
They were traveling in a Piper PA-46 aircraft, which departed from an airport in Oneonta, New York, around 2 pm after refueling.
Their intended route included a stop in West Virginia for additional fuel, with an ultimate destination of Atlanta later that day, per the New York Times.
Authorities discovered the wreckage and confirmed that all onboard had perished by Sunday evening.
Drones, all-terrain vehicles and helicopters were used to search for the remote crash site, per 11Alive.
The crashed plane was found approximately 125 miles northwest of New York City.
The deceased were identified by state police as Roger Beggs, 76; Laura Van Epps, 43; Ryan Van Epps, 42; James R. Van Epps, 12; and Harrison Van Epps, 10.
The Times noted an investigation will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with assistance from the New York State Police.
The NTSB’s website highlights a history of deadly incidents involving PA-46 aircraft.
Between May 31, 1989, and March 17, 1991, these planes were involved in seven fatal crashes across the U.S., Mexico, and Japan.
The Piper PA-46 has been in service since its introduction in 1979 and began mass operation in 1983.
The cause of the crash for the VanEpps family, however, still remains unknown.
Cody Alcorn with WXIA-TV in Atlanta reported on X that the victims were all members of the same family.
Alcorn later shared an update article from 11Alive that included a heartfelt statement from a close friend to the family named Mike Monasterio.
Monasterio had spoken to Ryan just days before the fatal crash.
“I said, ‘Brother, I will see you on the port. I will go take you and your family to the airport and get you there safe,’ Monasterio recounted to the outlet.
“Suddenly, what I heard is something like, something like this, and you lose half of your heart in your body.”
“We don’t want to bury our kids. We want our kids to bury us first. But something happened like this, and it’s really sad,” Monasterio said following the news.
Family member Ansley Van Epps told 11Alive, “we’re still processing the tragic loss of our family as well as the Beggs.”
“We are all devastated,” she said, adding, “We are heavily grieving and heartbroken.”
A statement the Van Epps family wrote of the deceased family read, “Their kindness, laughter and love will forever be etched in our hearts.”
“Please keep their loved ones and our family in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”
“May we find strength and solace in the memories and the outpouring of love from all who knew them.”
A coach at King’s Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta–a school the family had ties to–expressed how “fortunate” he had been to know the Van Epps.
The Milton Eagles Football Team also grieved the loss of one of its own on Monday.
One of James’s former football teammates described him as “a really nice kid.”
“He loved his brother. Him and his brother were best friends. I’m just devastated,” the 12-year-old told 11Alive.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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