6 killed in Howland plane crash identified
The Trumbull County Coroner's Office on Monday identified the pilot as 63-year-old Joseph Maxin and the co-pilot as 55-year-old Timothy Blake. The plane's four passengers were 68-year-old Veronica Weller, 67-year-old James Weller, 36-year-old John Weller and 34-year-old Maria Weller.
At this point, it's still unclear what caused the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board is taking the lead in the investigation. Investigators were expected to arrive to the scene Sunday night. The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting.
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Authorities said the twin-engine Cessna 441 went down seven minutes after takeoff, crashing in Howland Township in Trumbull County. It was just two miles away from the end of the runway at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
It went down in a heavily wooded area that was difficult to access. Howland Fire, Youngstown Air Reserve, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency all responded to the scene. A Trumbull County hazmat team handled the fuel from the plane.
Authorities said the plane was headed to Bozeman, Montana. they said the plane's pilots were highly experienced and its four passengers were also experienced.
The plane was owned by Meander Air LLC, based out of Warren, according to an FAA filing.
After investigators document the wreckage at the site, the plane will be moved elsewhere for evaluation.
Federal investigators plan to look at flight track data, air traffic control communications, the plane's maintenance records, weather forecasts, conditions at the time of the crash and more.
They're now asking anyone who have surveillance video or other information that may be relevant to the investigation to email them at witness@NTSB.gov.
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Local officials said it was a devastating hit to the aviation community.
'These were the best of the best in terms of folks here at the field, as well as the pilots and can't say enough about them,' said Mike Hillman, president of JETS, the airport's fixed-base operator. 'I'd give anything the rewind the day and take them to breakfast instead.'
A preliminary report on the crash is expected within the month.
'This is an extremely tragic situation, but it could have been worse,' said Howland Fire Chief Ray Pace. 'There were three residential houses in a pretty close proximity to the plane.'
FAA records show this is the seventh plane or helicopter crash in Ohio over the last year.
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