A well-known farming family from Lee County, North Carolina, lost their lives on Monday afternoon, July 7, 2025, when their small plane crashed into a field as they were returning home from a beach vacation in Florida. Travis Buchanan, 35, his wife Candace Buchanan, 35, and their two children, Aubrey, 10, and Walker, 9, all passed away in the accident near Sanford, North Carolina.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol received calls about the crash just after 2 p.m. in the area near Valley View Drive and Lower Moncure Road, located about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh. The Cirrus SR22 single-engine plane was found in an isolated field. Three members of the Buchanan family died at the scene, while the fourth was transported to a nearby hospital, where they later died from their injuries.
Federal Aviation Administration records show that Travis Buchanan owned the aircraft, which was stored at Raleigh Executive Jetport, just a few miles north of where the crash happened. FlightAware data reveals the plane left Merritt Island, Florida, around 11 a.m. Monday, with its last recorded position near Sanford at about 1:30 p.m. The flight was expected to last approximately two and a half hours.
The site of the accident was difficult to reach, being far from any main road, which made the rescue efforts challenging for emergency crews. Sky 5 aerial footage captured around 2:30 p.m. showed that the plane was entirely destroyed. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have begun their investigation into what caused the crash.
Buchanan Farms, the family’s business in Sanford, was highly respected locally and was known for quality strawberries and fresh produce. Abraham Garcia, who worked with Travis Buchanan for many years, said that his employer was always very helpful to him.
Travis and Candace Buchanan had been a couple since childhood, attending school together from kindergarten through high school in the Broadway area. They had been in a relationship for 16 years, gradually expanding their farming operation from a single greenhouse to about 1,000 acres with several facilities. Their farm on 2508 Broadway Road in Sanford included tobacco fields and a public produce stand and was an important part of the local community.
Travis began his agriculture career as a teenager, working for his aunt and uncle on their farm and at other neighboring operations. After graduating high school in 2007, he started his own farm, initially borrowing equipment from his uncle before slowly building up his own inventory as the business expanded.
Aubrey and Walker Buchanan both attended Grace Christian School in Sanford. Aubrey was preparing to enter fifth grade, and Walker was going into fourth grade. After the accident, the school posted a message on Facebook expressing condolences and noting, “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of one of our Crusader Families.” The school assured parents and students that counseling and support services would be available.
The plane involved in the crash was identified as a Cirrus SR22T, the turbocharged version of the model. This plane features a 315-horsepower engine and can seat four or five people, depending on the layout. It is built from composite materials and offers advanced avionics and multiple safety features.
One unique aspect of the Cirrus SR22 is the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), which can deploy a parachute to bring the aircraft safely down in emergencies. Since it debuted, the system has been used in 126 incidents, with 107 successful deployments that have saved 220 lives. With over 8,000 units delivered, the SR22 has been the top-selling general aviation aircraft worldwide since 2003.
The local community and customers of Buchanan Farms have expressed profound grief and disbelief at the loss of the family. The farm’s Facebook page, which boasts more than 5,600 followers, regularly shares updates on fresh produce and daily farm life. The Buchanans were well-known for their dedication to preserving agricultural land despite growing development pressures in the area.