A devastating plane crash in North Carolina has claimed the lives of a family of four, leaving their tight-knit community in shock and mourning.
Travis and Candace Buchanan, both 35, and their two children—10-year-old Aubrey and 9-year-old Walker—were killed when their private plane crashed into a field near the Sanford Raleigh Executive Airport in Lee County on Monday, July 7. The crash occurred just after 1:30 p.m., according to authorities.
Three of the family members were pronounced dead at the scene. The fourth was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed.
The aircraft, a Cirrus SR22T, was reportedly approaching the airport after departing Merritt Island, Florida earlier that morning. The family had been returning from a beach vacation, according to a Buchanan Farms employee who spoke with local news outlet WRAL.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the plane went down in a heavily wooded area under unknown circumstances. An investigator arrived at the crash site the following day to begin a formal investigation. A preliminary report is expected within a month, but the full cause of the crash could take up to two years to determine.
The plane was registered to Travis Buchanan, according to the FAA.
The Buchanans were well known in the Sanford area, where they owned Buchanan Farms. Just days earlier, the family had posted a cheerful Fourth of July message on the farm’s Facebook page. Now, that same page has become a place for condolences and heartbreak.
“Praying so hard for this family. Such a tragedy,” one person wrote. “Sending so much love to your family and friends.”
The children attended Grace Christian School, which also shared a tribute on social media. Aubrey was preparing to start fifth grade, while Walker was heading into fourth.
“With heavy hearts, we share the tragic loss of the Buchanan family,” the school wrote. “During this incredibly difficult time, we stand together in support of their family and one another.”
The small town of Sanford is now grieving the sudden and unimaginable loss of an entire family whose lives were cut short far too soon.