Eric Stephens, a healthcare technology executive, was killed Tuesday evening when his small private plane crashed in a wooded area near Lawrenceville, Georgia. The aircraft’s engine was believed to have caught fire before the crash.
Stephens, 57, was the founder of Georgia-based health technology company zPaper. He was married and had two daughters.
Emergency crews arrived at the crash site at about 5:30 p.m. and found Stephens dead among the wreckage in a wooded section of Lawrenceville, roughly 30 miles northeast of Atlanta.
The other person aboard, identified by authorities as Peter Magnuson, survived and was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The Velocity-173 FG was registered to Stephens, although authorities have not said whether Stephens or Magnuson was flying when the aircraft went down.
The plane departed from Gwinnett County Airport and remained in the air for approximately 90 minutes before the pilot reported engine trouble, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
It crashed about a mile southeast of the airport as the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing.
Jenny Constantino, who lives about 20 miles from the crash site, told Atlanta News First that she watched the plane descend and believed it was on fire.
Eric Stephens, 57, the married father of two and founder of healthcare technology company zPaper, died Tuesday in a plane crash in Lawrenceville, Georgia
The aircraft, a Velocity-173 FG, was registered to Stephens. A witness said the plane appeared to have an engine fire as it went down. The wreckage is pictured
“My oldest daughter and I went outside and looked up. We could see an airplane, and the back part of it was on fire,” Constantino said.
Air traffic control recordings obtained by the outlet captured the pilot requesting an emergency landing and reporting that the aircraft had a “rough engine.”
The pilot also said fire crews would be needed before later warning the controller: “It looks like we’re going in the trees.”
However, firefighters said there was no active fire when they reached the crash site.
The wreckage was discovered by Seth Bilstin, who lives across the street from where the plane came down.
Bilstin told Fox 5 that he spotted pieces of the aircraft in the woods while returning home from work. “I noticed that somebody was moving around, and I shouted, ‘Hello, hello!’ That’s when I called 911, and they got here within a few minutes,” he said.
“He clipped the top of the tree over here, and there was a bunch of debris. I noticed a large object in the trees, so I walked over and realized it was an aircraft. I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Bilstin added.
Stephens is survived by his wife, Cammie, and their two daughters, Catherine and Mary, according to a statement from Roswell United Methodist Church, where he was a longtime member.
Air traffic control recordings captured the pilot saying fire crews would be needed before warning, “It looks like we’re going in the trees.” A first responder is pictured beside the wreckage
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Aircraft debris is shown being removed from the site
The church held a prayer service Wednesday for Stephens’ family and friends. In a statement, it said it “deeply grieves the death of Eric Stephens, a longtime church member and friend.”
“We invite you to pray over the quilt for Eric’s family, as it will be given to provide God’s comfort and love,” the church said.
“May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.”
zPaper, the company Stephens founded, also mourned his death in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder, Eric Stephens, Ph.D. Eric built zPaper over 20 years and was a mentor and friend to everyone here,” the company said.
The Velocity-173 FG is sold as a kit that owners assemble themselves. The cause of the crash remains unknown and is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
NTSB investigators visited the crash site Wednesday. A preliminary report is expected to be released in December.
