New York Plane Crash: Prominent Attorney Steve Barnes, Niece Killed On Way To Birthday Party

A prominent New York attorney and his wife were killed in a plane crash in Genesee County on Friday afternoon.

Steve Barnes, co-founder of the personal injury law firm, Cellino & Barnes, was killed along with his niece, Elizabeth, when the single-engine Socata TBM-700 crashed in a wooded area. Barnes and Elizabeth were the only ones on board the plane and the former was a registered pilot. The news was confirmed by Barnes' law partner Ross Cellino Jr.

"It is with great sadness that I learned of the tragic passing of Steve Barnes in a plane crash. All of us at Cellino & Barnes are deeply saddened. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Barnes family during this difficult time," Cellino said in a statement to The Buffalo News.

Sheriff William Sheron told the outlet that deputies arrived at the scene and discovered the wreckage of the plane on a wooded area. A witness told the deputies that the plane was making "a loud, winding noise" before it went down.

"It dropped from the sky. He heard the crash. And (saw) the fireball," the sheriff told the outlet.

Barnes’ ex-wife, Ruth, told the outlet that the victims were on their way to attend a birthday party when the incident took place. Ruth, who was married to Barnes for 14 years, said their children were devastated and "they were very close to their father."

Calling Barnes a "skilled pilot," Robert J. Schreck, the managing attorney of Cellino & Barnes, said, "Steve was a very careful pilot, a skilled pilot who never took chances. We will see what happens with the ... investigation, but based on what I’ve heard, it sounds like something went wrong with that airplane."

Cellino and Barnes were well known in New York City and appeared together in several advertisements. However, following a legal battle, the two had agreed to the terms of splitting their law firm earlier this year.

"Steve and I worked together for many years at our firm. He was always a fearless advocate for his clients. His passing is a significant loss for the legal community. Steve’s greatest accomplishment was his three children Josiah, Rachel, and Julia. Steve is survived by his longtime partner, Ellen Sturm, also an attorney at our firm," Cellino said in a statement.

The plane crash was being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and the initial report is expected within seven to 10 days.