All five people aboard a small single-engine plane, including a family from Georgia with two children, died in a crash as the family was flying home from a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, New York, authorities said Monday.
The single-engine Piper Malibu Mirage departed from Oneonta Municipal Airport in central New York on Sunday and crashed in Masonville, about 90 miles southeast of Syracuse, New York State Police said in a release Monday.
The victims were identified as Roger Beggs, 76; Laura VanEpps, 43; Ryan VanEpps, 42; James R. VanEpps, 12; and Harrison VanEpps, 10.
The family was returning to Georgia after having attended a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, state police said.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement on X: "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."
The plane crashed at around 2 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Sunday.
"A multi-agency effort search of the area, with the utilization of drones, ATV’s and helicopters led to the discovery of debris and ultimately to the downed aircraft," state police said.
State police are working alongside the FAA and the National Transportation Board to investigate and determine the cause of the crash.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
