A North Carolina community is mourning the loss of a young family of four after their single-engine plane crashed just one mile from its intended destination.
A tragic plane crash claimed the lives of a family of four in Sanford, North Carolina, on Monday afternoon, July 7, 2025. The aircraft, a Cirrus SR22T, went down in a field in Lee County near the Raleigh Executive Jetport.
An image of the crash site in North Carolina on July 7, 2025, as shared by CBS 17 | Source: YouTube/CBS 17
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the incident. According to Aviation Accident Investigator Ryan Enders, the aircraft had departed from Merritt Island, Florida, and was en route to the Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford.
All four people on board, Travis Buchanan, 35, his wife Candace Buchanan, 35, and their two children, tragically died in the crash.
A newscaster from CBS 17 reports on the tragic plane crash that killed a young family of four in North Carolina on July 7, 2025 | Source: YouTube/CBS 17
“It’s a tragedy, by all means,” Enders said. “It’s a devastating blow to everybody in the community. We’re going to figure out what happened.”
Before the crash, the pilot contacted the fixed-base operator at the airport to report communication problems, as well as issues with the aircraft’s engine and navigation systems.
To assist in the investigation, the wreckage will be transported to a facility in Tennessee for further analysis.
As part of its standard procedure, the NTSB stated it will review the pilot’s flight history and examine the activities and conditions during the 72 hours preceding the flight.
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