Five family members killed in plane crash following Cooperstown baseball tournament.
Five family members who had traveled to Cooperstown, New York, for a baseball tournament lost their lives in a plane crash over the weekend.
A press release from the New York State Police, as reported by NBC News, confirmed that the tragic accident occurred on June 30, 2024, in Masonville, New York, about 50 miles south of Cooperstown.
New York State Police responded to reports of a possible plane crash on Sunday afternoon, and a coordinated search by multiple agencies led to the discovery of the wreckage and the aircraft.
The plane was identified as a Piper Malibu Mirage, a single-engine, piston-powered light aircraft.
All five passengers, who tragically lost their lives, were members of the same family from Georgia. They have been identified as:
– Roger Beggs, 76
– Laura VanEpps, 43
– Ryan VanEpps, 42
– James R. VanEpps, 12
– Harrison VanEpps, 10
The family had departed from Alfred S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta, New York, and the plane was headed to West Virginia for refueling, with its final destination being Cobb County International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, along with the Collision Reconstruction Unit and Forensic Identification Unit, are working together with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine the cause of the crash.
As per FAA statements regarding aviation accidents and incidents, the NTSB will lead the investigation and provide updates.
Cooperstown, a village in New York, is deeply connected to baseball history. The town’s official website describes Cooperstown as the birthplace of the sport and notes that each summer, visitors from around the world come to celebrate their passion for the game. The village is also home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as the Fenimore Art Museum.
