Mourning for family of five in small plane crash

The two boys, who died along with their parents and grandfather in a small plane crash following a baseball tournament in upstate New York, are remembered by their families as star athletes who had a bright future ahead of them.

James Van Epps, 12, and Harrison Van Epps, 10, died alongside his parents Laura and Ryan Van Epps, both 42, when a plane flown by their maternal grandfather, Roger Beggs, crashed in Masonville Sunday afternoon.

“It’s just a tremendous tragedy for our family and the end of five great lives, especially young lives,” said her paternal grandfather, Jim Van Epps.

The family flew back home to the Atlanta suburb of Milton after watching 12-year-old James’ baseball team play a tournament in Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Both sons were gifted athletes and students, their grandfather said, noting that 10-year-old Harrison was an aspiring lacrosse player.

“Ryan and Laura supported their boys in everything they wanted to do,” he added.

Online records show Beggs had a pilot’s license. Jim Van Epps said Laura Van Epps’ father volunteered to fly the family to upstate New York and stayed to watch his grandson’s tournament with them.

Emotional messages of condolence poured in after the single-engine Piper PA-46 crashed on Sunday at around 2 p.m., shortly after takeoff from a regional airport in Oneonta. Hours later, the wreckage of the plane was found in the town of Masonville, about 200 kilometers northwest of New York City.

On Monday, the Oneonta Women’s Softball League paid tribute to James, who participated in the tournament, and other members of his family in a moving Facebook post.

“Tonight we will observe a moment of silence for Cooperstown All Star Village baseball player JR Van Epps and his four family members who died yesterday in a tragic plane crash while returning home. Never forget to hold the people you love; they can be gone in an instant,” they wrote.

As part of their tribute, the team shared a picture of their equipment, which was engraved with the initials of the slain boy.

“For the love of the game,” they added.

In a separate Facebook post, the Van Epps family paid tribute to their loved ones, writing: “After a heartbreaking tragedy, we mourn the loss of our family. Yesterday we received the devastating news that Ryan, Laura, James Ryan, Harrison Van Epps and Laura’s father Roger Beggs were involved in a fatal plane crash and we are heartbroken.”

“As we grapple with this unimaginable loss, let us come together to remember and celebrate the wonderful life they lived. Their kindness, laughter and love will remain in our hearts forever,” the statement continued.

“Please keep her loved ones and our family in mind and pray for her during this incredibly difficult time. May we find strength and comfort in the memories and love of all who knew her,” the family added.

The plane was en route to Atlanta’s Cobb County International Airport and was making a refueling stop in West Virginia when it crashed, police said.

The authorities have not commented on the cause of the crash.

Neighbors remembered the family as “the nicest” and “the sweetest.”

“We were neighbors. We saw each other every day and we always said hi to the guys and sometimes they would come over. They lived right across the street and we would always wave and say hi and they were lovely,” neighbor Caroline Slayton told Atlanta News First.

“We are all devastated. They were the nicest family and the nicest people.”

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said on X that he and his family were praying for the victims’ families and expressed “our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved them.”

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.