The aviation community — along with friends, neighbors, and supporters across the country — is rallying around the family of Warren Cilliers, the accomplished aerobatic pilot killed in a plane crash in Starke.
“He had a way of showing up for people — truly showing up — with patience, kindness, and a genuine interest in their lives,” read a GoFundMe post that has raised nearly $40,000 for the St. Augustine man’s grieving kin.
Cilliers, 46, was practicing aerial maneuvers at Keystone Heights Airport when his small aircraft went down near the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park.
Federal investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are now working to determine the cause of the crash.
News of Cilliers’ death has reverberated far beyond the aerobatic world. As word spread, an outpouring of support surged for his wife, Janette, and their young son, Nicholas, with friends and fellow aviators organizing efforts to help the family navigate the crushing loss.
Through his company, Cilliers Aviation, based at the Palatka Airport, he specialized in performance aircraft maintenance and repair, earning a reputation as both a master technician and a trusted partner to pilots across the country.
From 2016 to 2019, he served as a technician for Team 99 Mike Goulian in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, further cementing his standing in the high-performance aviation community.
But those closest to Cilliers say his impact stretched far beyond aircraft hangars and airshow ramps. Warren was a devoted husband and father, a man of deep faith, and someone known for uplifting others with patience, humility, and care.
Friends remember him skating with Nicholas at the park, surfing at sunrise, supporting colleagues without hesitation, and offering quiet strength wherever it was needed.
“Warren made people feel seen, valued, and uplifted,” the post read. “He carried a calm, warm spirit that made everyone around him feel safe — the kind of presence that can’t be taught, only lived.”
As the community grieves, support efforts are underway to help Janette and Nicholas with funeral expenses, household needs, and the future of Cilliers Aviation — the business Warren built from the ground up.
A Celebration of Life is planned for December 6, with details to be announced.
