Just minutes after takeoff, the twin-engine plane crashed into the woods, ending the lives of four passengers and two crew members. Now, a community mourns the loss of beloved residents.
On Sunday, June 29, 2025, a plane crashed in the woods of Trumbull County — just moments after leaving Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, Ohio. There were no survivors.
Officials have now identified all six victims and released their names to the public.
Flames and smoke billow from the crash site in Howland Township, Ohio, on June 29, 2025. | Source: YouTube/Cleveland19News
The Trumbull County coroner identified four passengers — James Weller Jr., his wife Veronica Weller, their son John Weller, and John’s wife Maria Weller (ages 67, 68, 36, and 34, respectively) — as reported by Cleveland19.
Additionally, two crew members lost their lives — pilot Joseph Maxin, 63, and co-pilot Timothy Blake, 55. The Cessna 441 crashed near Howland Township’s King Graves and Henn Hyde roads 1.2 miles northwest of the airport.
Howland police and emergency services gather near the plane crash site on June 29, 2025. | Source: YouTube/Cleveland19News
According to airport officials, the plane crashed less than seven minutes after taking off at 6:53 a.m. It had made a left turn before it crashed about a minute later. In the wake of the crash, the Mahoning Valley community is mourning the loss of beloved residents.
The Weller family had deep roots in the area. James Jr. was a prominent executive at Liberty Steel Industries — founded by his father in 1965 — and served as president and CEO at the time of his death.
Wooded area of Howland Township cordoned off by local police around the June 29, 2025 crash site. | Source: YouTube/Cleveland19News
They were also a dominant presence at Sharon Speedway. Three generations of the family were avid racers, including grandfather James Sr., James Jr., and his son Jimmy (who was not on board). Jackson Township Trustee Tom Frost said:
“It’s a real tragedy, they’ve been great neighbors to us and great additions to the community.”
Pilot Joseph Maxin in a video shot in a hangar with the same Cessna 441 that crashed in Howland Township. | Source: YouTube/WKBN27
Sharon Speedway also issued a statement following the crash. They expressed deep sadness at the tragic loss and cited the Wellers’ many accomplishments and ties to the track in a Facebook post.
“Jim won 36 times in the Big-Block Modified division at Sharon Speedway and was a 2-time track champion. His late father Jim Weller, Sr. co-owned Sharon Speedway from 2002-2024,” read the post, adding a call for prayers for the family.
Pilot Joseph Maxin was a lead flight instructor at Youngstown Flight School. He was also director of compliance for the Western Reserve Port Authority and a former Mahoning County assistant prosecutor.
In a statement on Maxin’s death, Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro recalled his long and successful career. He first joined the prosecutor’s office in 1990, serving the civil and criminal divisions for decades.
Lynn described Joseph as “not only a skilled attorney, but also a beloved friend and colleague, known for his kindness, good nature and one-of-a-kind humorous personality.”
On X, the National Transportation Safety Board’s official media relations account announced the opening of an investigation into the crash.
The Wellers were survived by Jimmy Weller III, a former NASCAR stock racer, as well as Jimmy and John’s mother, Ronnie Weller, among others.
We hope the investigation helps to provide answers to those in mourning and extend our condolences to the Weller, Maxin, and Blake families. May their loved ones rest in peace.