‘I immediately called 911’: Neighbor discovers deadly plane crash near his home

Federal investigators returned to the scene of a deadly plane crash near Gwinnett County Airport on Wednesday, removing wreckage from a wooded area as new details emerged about the man who died.

Channel 2 Action News has learned the victim was Eric Stephens, founder and chief technology officer of zPaper, a Roswell-based technology company.

Stephens was also a pilot, although investigators have not said whether he was flying the aircraft when it crashed.

In a statement to Channel 2’s Michael Seiden, zPaper Chief Operating Officer Ken Schumacher confirmed Stephens’ death and described the impact he had on the company.

“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,” Schumacher said. “Our thoughts are with his family, and we ask that their privacy be respected.”

Schumacher said the company continues to serve its customers without interruption.

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The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 1000 block of Old Athens Road, near Gwinnett County Airport.

Investigators said the single-engine plane had taken off from the airport approximately 90 minutes before the crash. The airport’s air traffic control tower reported that the aircraft was experiencing engine trouble before it went down in a wooded area near several homes.

Two people were on board. Stephens was killed, while the second person survived.

Seth Bielstein, who has lived in the area for 27 years, said he was returning home from work when he noticed debris in the trees.

“I drove down Old Athens here after work, pulled into my house, and I noticed there was a bunch of debris in the tops of these trees,” Bielstein said.

He walked toward the debris and discovered the crashed aircraft.

“And then I saw a large object over there, so I walked over, and then I saw the aircraft,” Bielstein said.

Bielstein said he noticed someone moving near the wreckage and tried to get the person’s attention.

“I shouted hello a few times. They didn’t respond, so I immediately called 911, and the first responders got here within like just a few minutes,” Bielstein said.

He said he had never witnessed anything like it during his nearly three decades living near the airport.

“You almost just don’t believe it when you see something like that,” Bielstein said.

He also expressed relief that the aircraft did not strike any nearby homes.

“I’m just happy it didn’t hit my house, you know. But it’s just very unfortunate, very sad,” Bielstein said.

On Wednesday, Channel 2 cameras captured National Transportation Safety Board investigators removing pieces of the aircraft from the wooded crash site.

The aircraft has been identified as a Velocity 173 F, a single-engine airplane.

The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash. Although engine trouble was reported before the aircraft went down, investigators have not determined what caused it.

Bielstein said his thoughts remain with Stephens’ family and the survivor.

“My condolences to the family. That’s very sad news. Very unfortunate. You don’t ever want to see that happen,” he said.