A flight that began about 90 minutes earlier ended in a deadly crash Tuesday evening when a single-engine plane went down in a wooded area near Gwinnett County Airport in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The man who died was identified as Eric Stephens, 57, a Roswell technology company founder who leaves behind his wife and two daughters.
The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. near the intersection of Winder Highway and Bacchus Drive. According to Gwinnett County fire officials, the aircraft had experienced engine trouble and was attempting to land when it crashed.
The plane had departed from Gwinnett County Airport roughly an hour and a half before the accident. Officials said the aircraft was experiencing mechanical trouble as it attempted to return for a landing.
Emergency crews arrived to find two men trapped inside the wreckage. Firefighters worked to reach both occupants, but Stephens died at the scene. The second man was eventually freed and taken to a hospital with injuries authorities described as non-life-threatening.
Stephens was the founder of zPaper, a technology company based in Roswell. He had spent more than two decades building the business and developing relationships with the people who worked with him.
His death was confirmed by the company Wednesday. In a statement, zPaper described Stephens as both a mentor and a friend to its employees. The company also said it would continue serving customers without interruption while asking the public to respect his family’s privacy.
Away from work, Stephens was a longtime member of Roswell United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Cammie, and their daughters, Catherine and Mary. Church members joined the family in mourning, remembering him as a friend who had been part of their congregation for years.
The church opened its sanctuary and chapel Wednesday afternoon for people who wanted to pray and find support. Clergy members and Stephen Ministers were available to speak with those grieving his death.
A prayer quilt was also placed in the sanctuary and will remain there through Sunday worship. Members of the congregation were invited to pray over it before it is given to Stephens’ family.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. Although officials confirmed that the aircraft had experienced engine trouble before the accident, the exact cause of the crash has not yet been established.
For Stephens’ family, the loss is deeply personal. A husband and father who had spent years building a business and maintaining close ties with his church community is now being remembered by the people whose lives he touched.