5 Tragic North Carolina Plane Crashes: NTSB Updates On The 2025 Fatalities, Including A Grammy Winner
The year 2025 has been marked by a series of devastating aviation accidents across North Carolina, prompting urgent investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As of today, December 18, 2025, the state has seen several high-profile fatal crashes, each leaving behind a wake of tragedy and unanswered questions. These incidents, involving small, private aircraft, have captured national attention, with preliminary reports beginning to shed light on the potential causes of these catastrophic failures, from mechanical issues to pilot error and even an extraordinary incident involving wildlife.
The most recent and widely reported crashes include the loss of an entire family in Lee County and the death of a beloved Grammy-winning songwriter in the western mountains. The following is a detailed breakdown of the five most significant and tragic North Carolina plane crashes that occurred throughout 2025, providing the latest updates on the investigations and the lives lost.
The Victims: Biographical Profiles of Those Lost in the 2025 Crashes
The true cost of these aviation disasters is measured in the lives of the pilots and passengers. The three most recent and prominent fatal crashes in North Carolina in 2025 involved individuals well-known in their communities and professions, adding a profound layer of grief to the incidents.
The Buchanan Family Tragedy (Lee County, July 2025)
The small farming community of Lee County was shattered on July 7, 2025, when a Cirrus SR22T aircraft crashed just three miles short of the Raleigh Executive Jetport’s Runway 3, killing all four occupants.
- Travis Buchanan (35): A beloved farmer and entrepreneur, Travis was the pilot of the single-engine plane.
- Candace Buchanan (35): Travis’s wife, she was a dedicated mother and partner in the family's agri-tourism business.
- Aubrey Buchanan (10): Their daughter, a vibrant young girl.
- Walker Buchanan (9): Their son, a young boy with a passion for the outdoors.
The family was returning home from a trip to the beach when the accident occurred. The NTSB's preliminary report indicated that the crash happened in the early afternoon, but the investigation into the specific cause of the plane’s descent is ongoing.
Grammy-Winning Songwriter Brett James (Franklin, September 2025)
The music world mourned the loss of Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James, who perished along with two other individuals on September 18, 2025, in a small-engine Cirrus SR22T crash near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, North Carolina.
- Brett James: An acclaimed country music songwriter known for penning numerous hits, including the Carrie Underwood smash "Jesus, Take The Wheel," for which he won a Grammy Award.
- Two Unidentified Passengers: Details on the other two victims have been limited as the focus remains on the investigation.
The crash occurred in the mountainous terrain of Western North Carolina, thankfully avoiding any casualties among the students or staff at the nearby elementary school.
Greenville Dentist and Wife (Pitt-Greenville Airport, March 2025)
On March 14, 2025, a private Beechcraft A36 Bonanza crashed shortly after takeoff from the Pitt-Greenville Airport, killing the two people on board.
- Mark Bowman: Identified as a local Greenville dentist and the owner of the plane, registered to Carolina Contrails LLC.
- Wife/Passenger: The second victim was identified as Dr. Bowman's wife.
The flight, destined for Vero Beach, Florida, was only in the air for a few moments before the fatal accident.
Detailed Analysis of 5 Major North Carolina Plane Crashes in 2025
The frequency of these incidents, particularly involving high-performance single-engine aircraft like the Cirrus SR22T and Beechcraft Bonanza, has raised concerns within the general aviation community. The NTSB is meticulously examining flight data, maintenance records, and weather conditions for each event to determine the probable cause.
1. The Lee County/Sanford Cirrus SR22T Crash (July 7, 2025)
This incident involved a single-engine Cirrus SR22T aircraft, a model known for its sophisticated avionics and the optional Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The crash occurred as the plane approached the Raleigh Executive Jetport. The NTSB preliminary report, released shortly after the incident, did not immediately specify the cause but confirmed the aircraft’s impact site and the tragic loss of the Buchanan family. Investigators are looking closely at the final moments of the flight to determine if a mechanical failure, adverse weather, or pilot incapacitation contributed to the aircraft’s descent.
2. The Greenville Beechcraft Bonanza Crash (March 14, 2025)
The Beechcraft A36 Bonanza is a high-performance aircraft popular among private pilots. The crash near Pitt-Greenville Airport (PGV) happened moments after the plane departed at 7:46 a.m. The NTSB preliminary report, updated in May 2025, revealed that the aircraft crashed in a wooded area, resulting in a post-crash fire. The investigation is focusing on the initial phases of flight, which are statistically the most dangerous, and whether any engine trouble or control issues were reported to air traffic control before the crash.
3. The Franklin Cirrus SR22T Crash (September 18, 2025)
The loss of Brett James and two others in the mountains of Western North Carolina is another tragic example involving the Cirrus SR22T. The plane crashed near Iotla Valley Elementary School. Mountain flying presents unique challenges, including rapidly changing weather and terrain, which are key factors the NTSB will consider in its final report. The circumstances surrounding the crash—specifically the altitude, speed, and any emergency calls—are under intense scrutiny to prevent similar future accidents in challenging environments.
4. The Outer Banks First Flight Airport Crash (Cirrus SR-22)
A separate, but equally fatal, incident involved a single-engine Cirrus SR-22 airplane crashing late one Saturday afternoon in a wooded area at the Wright Brothers National Memorial's First Flight Airport in Kill Devil Hills. The accident tragically claimed five lives. The proximity of the crash to the birthplace of aviation adds a somber note to this disaster. The preliminary report indicated the crash caused a fire, and the investigation is looking into the aircraft's approach and landing sequence at the historic airport.
5. The Unusual Turtle-Related Crash (June 19, 2025)
In one of the most bizarre and heartbreaking aviation accidents of the year, a pilot was fatally injured after attempting to avoid a turtle on the runway. The small plane had landed and then raised a wheel to avoid hitting the animal. The pilot then attempted to take off again before crashing. This extraordinary incident highlights the unpredictable nature of general aviation and the split-second decisions pilots must make, often with fatal consequences.
NTSB and FAA Investigations: What Happens Next?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the lead investigative body for all civil aviation accidents in the United States. Following each crash, the NTSB launches a "Go-Team" to the site to document wreckage, collect perishable evidence, and interview witnesses.
The process of determining the probable cause is lengthy and meticulous, often taking 12 to 24 months to complete. The preliminary reports, such as those released for the Lee County and Greenville crashes, only provide factual information gathered in the initial days—the date, location, number of fatalities, and a brief description of the accident sequence.
Key areas of the ongoing North Carolina investigations include:
- Mechanical Failure: Detailed examination of the engines, airframe, and flight control systems of the Cirrus SR22T and Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft.
- Pilot Error/Incapacitation: Analysis of the pilot's experience, medical history, and communication with air traffic control.
- Weather Conditions: Review of meteorological data at the time of each accident, particularly for the mountain and coastal crashes.
- Fuel and Maintenance Records: Ensuring the aircraft were properly maintained and fueled before departure.
The ultimate goal of these investigations is not to assign blame but to issue safety recommendations to the FAA and the aviation industry to prevent similar tragedies in the future, thereby improving overall flight safety for all general aviation pilots and passengers in North Carolina and beyond.
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