A family of four tragically lost their lives when their small plane crashed near Sanford Raleigh Executive Airport in North Carolina on Monday (July 7). The victims were identified as Travis Buchanan, 35, Candace Buchanan, 35, and their children, Aubrey, 10, and Walker, 9. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that three family members died at the scene, while the fourth was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The crash involved a Cirrus SR22T aircraft registered to Travis Buchanan. The family was returning from a beach trip in Florida when the plane went down in a heavily wooded area around 1:36 p.m. under unknown circumstances. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that an investigator arrived on Tuesday (July 8) to document the scene and inspect the wreckage, which will be transported for further analysis. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while the final report could take one to two years to complete.
Yhe family owned Buchanan Farms in Sanford and were well-known in the community. Grace Christian School, where Aubrey and Walker were students, expressed their condolences on social media, stating, "During this incredibly difficult time, we stand together in support of their family and one another."
The NTSB noted that the plane had reported a loss of communication and navigational equipment, followed by engine issues. A parachute was on board but was not deployed. The investigation is ongoing, and the cause of the crash remains undetermined.