LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. (THECOUNT) — Eric Stephens, 57, of Roswell, was killed when a small airplane crashed Tuesday evening in a wooded area near Gwinnett County Airport in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, northeast of Atlanta. A second man aboard the aircraft, identified as Peter Magnuson, survived with injuries that were reported as non-life-threatening.
The crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10 near the intersection of Winder Highway and Bacchus Drive. Emergency crews located the wreckage in a wooded area near the 1000 block of Old Athens Road, approximately one mile southeast of the airport.
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Authorities identified the aircraft as a single-engine Velocity 173 F-G. Both men were trapped inside the wreckage after the plane struck the ground. Firefighters extricated the occupants, and Magnuson was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Flight records show the aircraft had been airborne for approximately 90 minutes after departing Briscoe Field, also known as Gwinnett County Airport. The pilot reported engine trouble to air traffic control and requested an emergency landing.
In recorded communications, an air traffic controller asked the pilot whether he was declaring an emergency. The pilot responded, “Yes, I’m declaring an emergency.”
The pilot also reported a rough-running engine. The aircraft was attempting to land when it went down in the wooded area. Authorities have not said which man was piloting the aircraft.
Stephens was the founder of zPaper, a Roswell-based technology company he built over more than 20 years. The company remembered him as a mentor and friend and said it would continue serving its customers.
Stephens was also a devoted member of Roswell United Methodist Church, where he served as a mentor in the men’s ministry and sang in the choir. The church offered prayers and support for his wife, Cammie, and their two daughters.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. Investigators have not determined what mechanical problem caused the reported engine trouble or what led to the crash.
The crash site was in a wooded area near Old Athens Road in Lawrenceville, about one mile southeast of Gwinnett County Airport in Gwinnett County, northeast of metro Atlanta. The map link identifies the reported road area, not a confirmed crash-scene pin.
Google Maps: Approximate crash area near Old Athens Road, Lawrenceville, GA
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