On Sunday, June 29, 2025, the silence of the morning sky over Trumbull County was shattered by a deafening explosion when a twin-engine Cessna 441 heading to Bozeman, Montana, crashed just seven minutes after takeoff from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. The aircraft, carrying two crew members and four passengers, fell into dense wooded area behind houses at the intersection of King Graves and Henn Hied roads, leaving behind only smoke, flames, and an indescribable grief for the tightly-knit Northeast Ohio aviation community. All six onboard perished, making this the deadliest accident in Haulend’s history, according to local fire chief Ray Paces.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched investigations to determine what caused the crash, which occurred around 7:01 a.m. about two miles east of the airport. The aircraft, which FlightAware reports departed at 6:53 a.m., left behind wreckage scattered in the thick forest, and a call that will test the resilience of a community proud of its aviation heritage. “This is the worst day for our region,” Paces said at a Sunday evening press conference, standing alongside representatives from Western Reserve Port Authority and Haulend Police.
Moment of the crash
Haulend residents whose homes border the crash site described scenes of chaos and terror. Rebecca Baxter, who woke up to a sound like thunder, said, “My house shook, and I thought it was a storm.” Her neighbor Rebecca Herman noticed plumes of smoke and saw firefighters rushing to the scene, initially thinking a house was on fire. “The electricity went out, then came back on,” she recalled. “We didn’t immediately realize it was an airplane.” Neighbor Rachel Flavers added that she heard “two loud thuds, like thunder,” followed by flames and thick smoke that firefighters quickly extinguished.
Emergency crews, including Haulend Fire Department and Youngstown Air Reserve Station, responded promptly, and toxic materials cleanup teams from Trumbull County worked on containing the spilled fuel. Anthony Trevener, executive director of Western Reserve Port Authority, said the victims—“the best of the best” in the local aviation community—were experienced professionals whose loss deeply affected the region. “This is a close-knit community,” he said with tears in his eyes. “We are grateful for the support, but we will need time to recover.” The identities of the deceased have not been disclosed pending family notifications, but Trevener described them as respected pilots and passengers whose contributions to the community were invaluable.
Investigation and broader context
The NTSB, which is leading the investigation, confirmed that the aircraft was a Cessna 441 Conquest II, a small twin-turboprop airplane capable of carrying up to six passengers. The agency stated that investigators arrived at the crash site on the evening of June 29 to document the wreckage, which will be transported to a secure location for further analysis. The FAA is also cooperating with the investigation, but the NTSB remains the primary authority responsible for determining the cause. Preliminary data do not point to a specific reason, but an earlier NTSB report on another regional crash in Youngstown in July 2024, involving a Beechcraft BE-60 experiencing engine power loss, has raised questions about possible mechanical issues.
This tragedy marks the third fatal aviation crash in Ohio in 2025, following incidents in Ashtabula and Ashland counties, where one and two pilots lost their lives, respectively. According to the NTSB, 295 aviation incidents were recorded in the U.S. in 2025, 57 of which were fatal, highlighting ongoing challenges to small aircraft safety. Youngstown-Warren Airport, located in Vienna, Ohio, serves as a key regional hub for both commercial and private flights, but its proximity to wooded areas and changing weather conditions often complicate operations. Local aviation expert Mike Hillman, commenting on the loss, said, “I’d give anything to turn back time and invite them to breakfast instead of a flight.”
Community impact
Haulend, a quiet town with a population of approximately 19,000, is unaccustomed to such tragedies. Fire Chief Paces called the crash “unprecedented” in its scale, noting it as the highest loss of life in an aviation disaster in Trumbull County history. Residents like Nicole Perish expressed shock: “It’s frightening and saddening that something like this can happen so close to home.” The community, known for its support of the aviation sector, including Youngstown Air Reserve Station, has already begun memorial efforts, including fundraising for the families of the victims, as reported by local radio station WFMJ.
While NTSB investigators analyze the onboard data recorders and debris, the Haulend community prepares for a long healing process. Preliminary reports do not exclude weather factors, as thunderstorms were observed in the region on the morning of June 29, similar to those coinciding with the Ashland crash in May 2025. However, final conclusions are likely to take months, leaving families and friends of the victims in painful anticipation of answers. In a town proud of its resilience, this disaster serves as a stark reminder of life’s fragility and the risks lurking in the skies.
