A family’s beach getaway ended in unimaginable tragedy when their small plane crashed in North Carolina, killing all four people on board – a mother, father, and their two young children.

On July 7, Travis and Candace Buchanan, both 35, were flying home with their children –Aubrey, 10, and Walker, 9 – when their plane crashed into a field near Sanford Raleigh Executive Airport in Lee County, according to People.

Tragic end

Just after 11 a.m., the family, owners of Buchanan Farms in Sanford, had taken off from Merritt Island in Florida, where an employee said the group was vacationing at the beach.

About 1:36 p.m., less than 20 minutes from their destination, their plane – a single engine four-seater registered to Travis – tragically went down, crashing into “a heavily wooded area under unknown circumstances,” the outlet reports.

Emergency crews arrived at the crash site around 2:03 p.m., where they found three passengers dead at the scene. The fourth was rushed to the hospital but later pronounced dead.

Now, as investigators search for answers, an entire community is mourning the sudden and devastating loss of a beloved family.

‘Cornerstone in this community’

“Our hearts are shattered…I still can’t process the news. My stomach turns and my heart aches thinking about those final moments. It’s simply unfathomable,” a local farm, Pint Sized Pasture, shared in an emotional Facebook tribute. “The Buchanans were more than just fellow farmers – they were a cornerstone in this community. Their kindness, their work, their presence…it mattered.”

Meanwhile, Visit NC Farms offered its heartfelt thoughts in a separate Facebook post: “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the unimaginable loss of the Buchanan family, who tragically passed during their journey home to North Carolina. Their beloved Buchanan Farms wasn’t just a destination – it was a place where life slowed down and where families created memories that will now hold even deeper meaning,”

Customers and friends

A local restaurant paid tribute to the Buchanan family, confirming their passing and reflecting on the deep impact they had within the community. The business extended heartfelt condolences, calling the loss devastating for everyone who knew and loved them.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share this post about the passing of the Buchanan Farms family. Travis, his wife and kids were more than customers to us they were friends,” shared Los Charros Mexican Restaurant. “I still remember the day Travis came to the restaurant and brought us a lot of his harvests to try; we even name a margarita after his farm.”

Workers carry on

Amid the heartbreak, one local shared a powerful sight — workers at Buchanan Farms continuing their duties in silence, honoring the family’s legacy through their presence and perseverance, even in their devastating absence.

“The look and wave I got from the gentleman on this tractor today broke my heart.  Not sure who is now in charge of their employees, but they were out there working hard to carry on the Buchanan’s farming legacy today,” writes neighbor Rebekah Angel Walters, who in her social media post, included images of the workers working in the cops.

Engine issues

At the moment there’s very little information available but the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), NTSB has confirmed, per WRAL, that the pilot – presumed to be one of the parents – reported engine issues along with a loss of communication and navigation equipment before the Cirrus SR22T slammed into the ground.

We offer our best wishes to the loved ones and community as they mourn the devastating loss of the Buchanan family. Please share your condolences in the comment section below and then share this story so we can hear from others.