A small plane carrying five family members from Georgia crashed in New York, killing all aboard. Authorities have confirmed that the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions during its flight.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a small plane carrying five family members from Georgia crashed in upstate New York on Sunday, leaving no survivors. The single-engine Piper PA-46 aircraft went down in the town of Masonville, just minutes after departing from Alfred S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta.
The victims have been identified as 12-year-old James "JR" VanEpps, his 10-year-old brother Harrison VanEpps, their parents Ryan and Laura VanEpps, and 76-year-old Roger Beggs. The family was returning home to Atlanta from a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, New York.
Tragedy Strikes: Five Family Members Perish in Upstate New York Plane Crash
According to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane flew through an area of "storm activity" shortly before the crash. Flight tracking data shows that the aircraft disappeared from radar approximately 12 minutes after takeoff.
"The plane passed through an area of storm activity," an NTSB spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Meteorological data shows storm activity along the flight path."
Tragedy Strikes: Five Family Members Perish in Upstate New York Plane Crash
Witnesses reported seeing the plane in flames as it descended towards the ground. Masonville Fire Chief Robert Palmer described the scene of the crash as "devastating."
"The plane clipped some treetops and then crashed into a wooded area," Palmer said. "It was completely destroyed. There was no chance of survival for the occupants."
Tragedy Strikes: Five Family Members Perish in Upstate New York Plane Crash
The NTSB is currently investigating the cause of the crash. Investigators have recovered all major portions of the plane except for the rudder. The debris path extends for approximately a mile.
The VanEpps family was well-known in their community in Braselton, Georgia. James VanEpps was an avid baseball player who had recently hit a grand slam in his final game in Cooperstown. His coach, Frank Tumminia Jr., described James as "the ultimate human."
Tragedy Strikes: Five Family Members Perish in Upstate New York Plane Crash
"In his last game in Cooperstown NY, where youth athletes' dreams are made with storybook backgrounds and brackets full of several dozen teams… JR Van Epps crushed a GRAND SLAM," Tumminia wrote in a Facebook post. "Today and for as long as I live I will teach the living testimony of JR. A piece of me left with him."
The loss of the VanEpps family has sent shockwaves through their community and beyond. Friends, family, and local officials have expressed their condolences and offered support during this difficult time.
"This is a tragedy that has touched so many lives," said Braselton Mayor Bill Orr. "Our hearts go out to the VanEpps family and all those who loved them. We will never forget them."
