5 people killed in small plane crash near Sidney, New York

Five people were killed Sunday when a small plane crashed in a wooded area near Sidney in upstate New York, local officials say. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

The accident happened at 2 p.m. on Sunday when a single-engine Piper PA-46 went down near Trout Creek, a small town in Delaware County, about 5 miles east of Masonville.

First responders said a large debris field was found in a wooded area near Lake Cecil Road and Herrick Hollow Road, just north of Trout Creek. No survivors were found after an hours-long search.

“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,” New York State Police said in a statement.

The plane, which was registered in Atlanta, Georgia, had taken off from Oneonta Municipal Airport in Otsego County at 1:40 p.m., according to flight records. Five people were on board.

The victims were identified as a family from the state of Georgia: Roger Beggs, 76; Laura VanEpps, 43; Ryan VanEpps, 42; James R. VanEpps, 12; and Harrison VanEpps, 10. They had traveled to Cooperstown, New York for a baseball tournament.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, the FAA said.

Trout Creek is about 120 miles northwest of New York City.

We just got a photograph of the family killed in a small plane crash in New York over the weekend. The Van Epps family was visiting Cooperstown for a baseball tournament and heading back to Cobb County. Please keep them in your prayers. https://t.co/pJFRbG5Kfl pic.twitter.com/Dk01d530ew

— Atlanta News First (@ATLNewsFirst) July 1, 2024