A family of five is tragically gone after a plane crash claimed their lives on June 30th, 2024. They were returning home from a youth baseball tournament in upstate New York when disaster struck.
The family was flying in a small, single-engine Piper Malibu Mirage, leaving Oneonta Municipal Airport in central New York. The plane crashed in Masonville, about 90 miles southeast of Syracuse. It was a heartbreaking loss that has left the community in shock.
The victims have been identified as Roger Beggs, 76; Laura VanEpps, 43; Ryan VanEpps, 42; James R. VanEpps, 12; and Harrison VanEpps, 10. They were headed back to Georgia after spending time in Cooperstown, a town known for its baseball tournaments and the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The crash was reported to local authorities at around 2 p.m. on Sunday. A massive search effort followed, with helicopters, drones, and ATVs combing the Lake Cecil Road area. After hours of searching, the wreckage was found, confirming the worst.
Roger Beggs was the pilot of the plane, and his flight plan included a stop for refueling in West Virginia before continuing on to Atlanta. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp shared his condolences, asking the public to join him in praying for the family’s loved ones. “Please join Marty, the girls, and me in praying for the loved ones of the Beggs and VanEpps families,” he wrote.
Ryan VanEpps’ sister, Ansley, also shared her grief, mourning the loss of her entire family in this unimaginable tragedy.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and local authorities are all investigating the cause of the crash. In this difficult time, our hearts go out to the VanEpps family and their friends as they cope with this unimaginable loss.
Let us all take a moment to remember those lost in this tragedy and share our condolences with the grieving families. Please, take a second to reach out to your loved ones—life is fragile, and every moment matters.
