AVON, MAINE — A plane crash on Tuesday at 11 a.m. claimed the life of Game Warden Pilot Joshua Tibbetts near a pond.
The Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife confirmed the incident involved a Cessna 185F, with no passengers onboard. Witnesses reported the aircraft went down in a remote area, but the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Authorities stated that Tibbetts, 18 years with the agency, had been piloting for the past three years, supporting search and rescue operations, law enforcement, and wildlife conservation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Governor Janet Mills expressed her condolences, stating, “My heart is with the warden's family and loved ones, their colleagues at the Maine Warden Service, and all affected by this tragedy.”
No further details about the crash or the emergency response have been released at this time.