A Skyward Dream Shattered: Six Lives Lost in Tragic Ohio Plane Crash
YOUNGSTOWN-WARREN, OHIO — A quiet Sunday morning turned into a devastating day of loss for an Ohio community after a Cessna 441 aircraft carrying six people crashed just minutes after takeoff from the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. There were **no survivors**.
The flight, bound for Bozeman, Montana, was intended to carry the **Weller family** and two pilots to a long-awaited vacation. Instead, it ended in heartbreak when the plane plunged into a heavily wooded area near the airport, barely moments after departure.
Among the victims were:
Joseph Maxin, 63 — the pilot, and director of compliance for the Western Reserve Port Authority. He had also served as a former assistant prosecutor for Mahoning County.
Veronica Weller, 68
James Weller, 67
John Weller, 36
Maria Weller, 34
The Weller family, a respected name in the Youngstown-Warren area* due to their decades-long presence in the steel manufacturing industry, was traveling together for what should have been a joyous family vacation. Now, a community mourns not just the loss of familiar faces, but an entire family’s legacy brought to an end in an instant.
According to Trumbull County Coroner Lawrence D’Amico, the scene was one of unimaginable grief. The wooded terrain made the crash site difficult to reach, and the heartbreak that awaited first responders was only made worse by the knowledge of who was on board.
“This is an extremely tragic situation, but it could have been worse,” said Howland Township Fire Chief Raymond Pace, pointing out that the crash occurred dangerously close to three residential homes.
For the people of Youngstown and Warren, the pain is personal. The Weller family had not only built businesses but also community bonds. Their involvement in the local economy and charities made their names synonymous with hard work, generosity, and unity.
Joseph Maxin, the pilot, was more than just an experienced aviator. His career in public service and law painted the picture of a man committed to protecting and serving others. His loss alone would have been profound — compounded now by five more irreplaceable lives lost beside him.
Flight tracking data confirmed that the aircraft was headed toward Bozeman, Montana, a destination that will now never receive the family it was meant to welcome.
As the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board launch their investigation into what went wrong, an entire region is left with nothing but memories, sorrow, and unanswered questions.
Six lives gone too soon. One family wiped out. One pilot remembered for service. And a town left forever changed.
May the skies cradle them gently now. And may their legacies never be forgotten.