Family of 5, including 2 children, identified as victims in fatal plane crash

MASONVILLE, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — New York State Troopers announced on Monday, July 1 that they have identified five people killed in a plane crash in Delaware County.

At approximately 2 pm on Sunday, June 30, police were dispatched to Lake Cecil Road in the town of Masonville for a plane crash. Police utilized a multiple-agency search of the area, which included the use of drones, ATVs and helicopters. According to officers, the search led to the discovery of debris, which ultimately led to the discovery of the downed aircraft.

According to the New York State Police based out of Sidney, the five people killed in the crash were all family members from Georgia and were in Cooperstown over the weekend for a baseball tournament. They have been identified as:

• 76-year-old Roger Beggs,
• 43-year-old Laura Van Epps,
• 43-year-old Ryan Van Epps,
• 12-year-old James Van Epps, and
• 10-year-old Harrison Van Epps.

An investigation into the crash found that the plane had departed from the Alfred Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta and was traveling to West Virginia to refuel. Its ultimate destination was found to be Cobb County International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.

The New York State Police were assisted on the scene by the following agencies:

• the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Medical Examiner, Office of Emergency Management and Tech Rescue Team,
• Broome County Mutual Aid,
• the fire departments of Trout Creek, Hancock, Masonville, Walton, Sidney Center, Delhi, Downsville, Deposit, and Schoharie,
• the EMS and ambulance services of Bainbridge, Sidney, and Delaware County,
• Ambulanz Ambulance Service,
• LifeNet,
• the Walton Police Department,
• EnCon Forest Rangers, and
• the New York State Department of Environmental Protection.

The New York State Police are currently working in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Board to determine the cause of the crash.

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