A North Carolina family of four — including two young children — was killed when their small plane crashed in a field northeast of Sanford on Monday afternoon as they returned from a beach trip in Florida.
Federal investigators say the single-engine Cirrus SR22T aircraft went down shortly after 1:30 p.m. under unknown circumstances. The National Transportation Safety Board said an investigator was expected at the crash site Tuesday and that the wreckage would be transported to a facility for further analysis.
The victims were identified as 35-year-olds Travis and Candace Buchanan, along with their children, 10-year-old Aubrey and 9-year-old Walker, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Three of the four family members died at the scene, while the fourth was pronounced dead at a hospital.
There were no survivors in the crash.
Flight records indicate the aircraft, registered to Travis Buchanan of Sanford, departed Merritt Island, Florida, around 11 a.m. Monday. It disappeared from tracking near Sanford, about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh, just over two hours later. The plane was based at Raleigh Executive Jetport, located a few miles from the crash site, the airport confirmed in a social media post.
The Buchanans were well-known in the Sanford community. Local television station WRAL reported the family owned Buchanan Farms, and an employee, Abraham Garcia, described Travis Buchanan as a generous and kind employer. “He helped me all the time,” Garcia told the station.
Grace Christian School in Sanford also mourned the family’s loss, confirming that Aubrey was set to enter fifth grade and Walker fourth grade this fall. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of one of our Crusader Families,” the school said in a statement on Facebook. “During this incredibly difficult time, we stand together in support of their family and one another.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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