A tragic accident in Ohio has claimed the lives of James “Jim” Weller, 67, a prominent steel magnate and owner of Liberty Steel Industries Inc., along with five others, including members of his immediate family and flight crew. The Cessna twin-engine aircraft they were traveling in crashed just minutes after takeoff from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport early Sunday morning, en route to a family vacation in Bozeman, Montana.

Also killed in the crash were James Weller’s wife, Veronica Weller, 68; their son, John Weller, 36; and daughter-in-law, Maria Weller, 34. The pilot, Joseph Maxin, 63, and co-pilot, Timothy Blake, 55, also lost their lives.

The plane went down around 7 a.m., barely seven minutes after takeoff, crashing approximately two miles west of the airport in a heavily wooded residential area in Howland Township. Miraculously, despite the aircraft slamming into a backyard, no homes were struck and there were no additional casualties on the ground—a small mercy amid such overwhelming loss.

Residents reported hearing a deafening boom that they initially mistook for a thunderstorm. “It sounded like a bomb,” said local resident Sarah Thompson. Another neighbor, Rachel Flowers, told reporters she was jolted awake by “two more pops that sounded like thunder.”

Emergency crews—including local fire departments, hazmat teams, air reserve fire services, and drone units—rushed to the crash site, though access was made difficult by thick forestation. Howland Township Fire Chief Raymond Pace called the tragedy the deadliest plane crash in the area’s history, adding, “That no homes were hit is a small miracle in a situation of such overwhelming heartbreak.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are currently investigating the cause of the crash. A preliminary report is expected later in July. The wreckage and debris field are being mapped with aerial drone surveys, and crews continue to monitor the site for fuel runoff or environmental hazards.

The Wellers were a respected and influential family in both the business and local community. James Weller, whose father founded Liberty Steel in 1965, expanded the company from a modest steel service center into a major regional supplier. He was also a beloved figure in motorsports, especially at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio. The Speedway released a statement mourning the family’s loss, recalling James as a 36-time Big Block Modified winner and a two-time track champion. His late father, Jim Weller Sr., had co-owned Sharon Speedway from 2002 to 2024.

Pilot Joseph Maxin, known for his long career flying Challenger 300 and Learjet 45 aircraft, was also a former assistant prosecutor with the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office. Aviation consultant Mike Hillman told reporters, “These were the best of the best… I’d give anything to rewind the day and take them to breakfast instead.”

As the community reels from this tragedy, many are left grieving the loss of an entire family unit and the seasoned professionals who served alongside them. A cloud of mourning now hangs over the tight-knit communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, where the Weller family’s generosity, leadership, and legacy will never be forgotten.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. In the meantime, tributes have poured in across social media and from organizations connected to the Wellers, as friends, colleagues, and community members struggle to comprehend the sudden, devastating loss.

The NTSB continues to collect evidence and analyze flight data to determine what went wrong during the flight’s final minutes. Until then, loved ones and the public wait for answers, holding onto memories and honoring the lives of six individuals who were taken far too soon.