In a devastating incident, a Georgia family-of-five lost their lives in a plane crash in upstate New York. The single-engine Piper PA-46 aircraft carrying the family crashed in a rural, wooded area in Sidney, Delaware County, about 40 miles northeast of Binghamton, shortly after taking off from Alfred S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta.

Officials suggest that the family was flying through an area of storm activity, as indicated by flight tracking data reviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The plane, piloted by 76-year-old Roger Beggs, the grandfather of the children, was en route to Charleston, West Virginia from Oneonta, New York, where the family had traveled to attend a baseball tournament.

The victims of the tragic crash have been identified as Laura Van Epps, 43, her husband Ryan, 42, and their two sons, James Ryan, 12, and Harrison Van Epps, 10, along with Laura's father, Roger Beggs.

Prior to the crash, storms had been reported along the flight path, with the plane entering a storm cell at an altitude of 8,700 feet. Meteorologists believe that turbulent conditions within the storm cell may have contributed to the crash.

Search and rescue efforts were carried out by drones, all-terrain vehicles, and helicopters to locate the remote crash site, which was found to span over a mile. Most major parts of the plane, except for the rudder, have been recovered.

The family had been returning to their home in Alpharetta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, after their 12-year-old son James Ryan hit a grand slam during the youth baseball tournament in Cooperstown, New York. Friends and loved ones have expressed their grief and shared heartfelt tributes on social media, highlighting the athletic achievements and positive qualities of the young baseball player.

The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, with the NTSB examining all available data, including meteorological conditions, to determine the cause of the tragic accident. The loss of the Van Epps family has left a deep impact on their community, who will forever remember them as a loving and remarkable family.

The aviation community mourns the loss of the Georgia family, emphasizing the importance of flight safety and the need to remain vigilant in the face of adverse weather conditions.