Cessna 441 accident near Warren, Ohio, June 29, 2025
On June 29, 2025 at about 10:54 am local time, a 1984 Cessna 441, registered N441LS, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Warren, Ohio (Youngstown/Warren Regional Air airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2025 · about 10:54 am local time
- Place
- Warren, Ohio · Youngstown/Warren Regional Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 441 NO SERIES, built 1984 · all 441s on the register
- Registration
- N441LS · registry record · serial 441-0342
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 29, 2025, about 0654 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 441, N441LS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Warren, Ohio. The airline transport pilot and five passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations personal flight. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Chronological Summary of Flight Communications, the pilot contacted local control (LC), which was combined with ground control and the pilot was issued an instrument flight rules clearance from Youngstown/Warren Regional Airport (YNG), Youngstown/Warren, Ohio, to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), Bozeman, Montana, which was correctly read back. The flight was issued taxi instructions to runway 32 and about 0651, the local controller issued a takeoff clearance from runway 32, including departure instructions to turn left direct to the destination and gave the wind as from 090° at 4 knots. Video with sound from the “Terminal Ramp” security camera at YNG captured an increase in sound from the accident airplane about 0652, while video without sound from the military side of YNG captured the airplane rotating just prior to taxiway C, with the estimated point of rotation approximately 4,400 to 4,500 feet down the 9,003-foot runway. The aircraft then climbed to an estimated altitude of about 100 feet above ground level before leveling off and continuing along the runway heading at a consistent altitude until it was no longer visible on camera. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data, targets were noted during almost the entire takeoff roll and continued to very close proximity to the first identified broken tree limb on the ground associated with the impact sequence. A review of reported barometric altitude data while airborne compared to while on the runway revealed only about 100 ft of altitude gain during the entire flight. Security camera video from a farm located .40 nm nearly due east from the accident site depicted the airplane emerging from behind trees flying at a low altitude in a westerly direction in a nearly nose-level and wings level attitude. The video with sound depicted the airplane flying for about 7 seconds before going out of view behind trees. Witnesses who were located about 1.5 nm northwest from the accident site reported hearing the sound of an airplane initiating its takeoff roll. They then heard a noticeable pitch change in the engine sound. They reported that the airplane never appeared above the tree line and that the engine was "roaring." Moments later, they heard the sound of trees breaking, followed by a loud explosion, and observed smoke rising from the area where the airplane had gone down. Video from the military side of YNG also captured smoke from the postcrash fire. The airplane impacted trees in a heavily-wooded area which separated a major portion of the left wing. The wreckage, consisting of the fuselage, inboard section of left wing, right wing, aft empennage with horizontal and vertical stabilizers, came to rest inverted. The cockpit, cabin, right wing, and separated section of the left wing were heavily damaged by the postcrash fire. The Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) was retained for readout by the manufacturer, while the throttle quadrant, annunciator panel, and inboard section of the right elevator torque tube were retained for examination by the NTSB Materials Laboratory. Both engines, and propellers were also retained for further examination at each manufacturer’s facility with NTSB oversight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
- Explosion (post-impact) during post (impact)
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 10,165 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Meander Air LLC
The flight
- Destination: BZN Bozeman MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 9,003 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 am from KYNG, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KYNG 291051Z 08004KT 10SM FEW048 SCT250 18/17 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP182 T01830172
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.
