A North Carolina family’s beach trip ended in tragedy when their small plane crashed, killing all four onboard: Travis and Candace Buchanan, both 35, and their children Aubrey, 10, and Walker, 9.
The Buchanans were returning from a Florida beach vacation on July 7 when their single-engine Cirrus SR22T crashed near Sanford Raleigh Executive Airport, just 20 minutes from landing. Emergency crews found three family members dead at the scene; the fourth died later at the hospital.
The family, owners of Buchanan Farms in Sanford, were beloved in the community. Tributes poured in from neighbors and local businesses, describing them as kind, hardworking, and central to the local farming community.
“Our hearts are shattered,” shared a neighboring farm. “They were more than farmers – they were a cornerstone in this community.”
As investigators look into the cause, the NTSB reported the pilot had noted engine problems and a loss of communication/navigation systems before the crash.
Despite the grief, Buchanan Farms employees were seen quietly continuing their work — a solemn tribute to the family’s enduring legacy.