NORFOLK, Va. -- Three men with ties to Western New York died Wednesday when their small plane crashed just miles from their destination in Virginia.

Michael Buxton, a Canisius College graduate living in Virginia, was the pilot of the 1975 Mooney M20F. He was 61.

Ted Reinhardt, 62, of Tonawanda, was also on the plane. Reinhardt was a well-known Buffalo musician.

The third victim was William Shaver, 60, of Holland.

A friend said that Buxton knew Reinhardt and Shaver from school in Buffalo, and the three spent time on Buxton's boat in Key West.

Officials said the four-seater plane took off from the Florida Keys bound for Suffolk, Virginia.  They're not sure why, but it ended up diverting to Norfolk International Airport. It disappeared from radar just two miles from the runway, and now the National Transportation Safety Board is working to piece together those final moments.

NTSB officials say the plane crashed into the Norfolk Botanical Gardens around 4 a.m. Wednesday. According to Virginia State Police, it clipped the top of a tree while making its descent into the Norfolk airport.  

An air safety investigator couldn't speculate on a cause.  For now, the focus will be on the physical area of the crash and environmental factors including weather conditions, radar data, and archived communications between the flight and air traffic control.  State Police say there was fog in the area at the time of the crash.

The NTSB hopes to have its investigation of the crash site finished by Thursday evening.  It will then be about 9-12 months before reports on both the collected facts and probable cause will be released.

Buxton was a clinical psychologist who advocated for special needs children and veterans.

"He did whatever it took. Special needs children couldn't get the care that they needed and deserved and he was first and foremost there and he would have to go to court and was successful at getting the care that these children needed," said Buxton's friend, Bill Watts.

Buxton's partner, Debbie Childs, released this statement:

"Mike cared about everyone and fought for everyone.  He didn't want students to fall through the cracks.  He fought for me.  I remember when he first took me flying over Norfolk, it was indescribable."

Canisius College also released a statement.  It reads:

"The Canisius College community mourns the loss of Michael Buxton from the Class of 1975.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Buxton and his family and the other victims and their loved ones."