Preliminary report details events leading to plane crash that killed Maine Warden Service pilot
Maine Game Warden Pilot Joshua Tibbetts Killed in Franklin County Plane Crash
A 50‑year‑old Maine Warden Service pilot died after a Cessna seaplane crashed near Avon, Franklin County, on May 12. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report Tuesday that traced the aircraft’s route and the damage sustained in the crash, but it does not yet identify a cause. The investigation is expected to take one to two years to complete.
The aircraft, a Cessna A185F, had taken off from Crystal Lake in Harrison at about 10:30 a.m. and was heading to Rangeley Lake to load 42 pounds of fish and 12 gallons of water in its right fish‑pod. The plane, equipped with a fish pod on each of its floats, then flew southeast for roughly 21 miles to Schoolhouse Pond, the body of water the agency intended to stock. After stopping near the pond, the pilot flew approximately 1½ miles east, turned left, and continued along the pond’s eastern shore before the crash occurred about 400 yards southwest of the pond at 10:58 a.m.
The wreckage was found in a densely wooded area near Avon. The aircraft rested in a nose‑down attitude, with its floats still attached to the fuselage. The right fish pod contained fish that had been loaded for the stocking mission, and a few fish were found on the ground adjacent to the pod. Damage was extensive: wings were displaced forward and partially separated from the airframe; the pilot’s and copilot’s seats, as well as the instrument panel, were impacted; the engine was partially separated from the firewall; and the propeller had detached from the engine. Multiple tree branches in the vicinity displayed angular separations and paint transfer marks at their break points, indicating the plane struck the trees during the impact. Wind conditions at the time of the crash were moderate—approximately 13 knots, with gusts up to 25 knots.
Joshua Tibbetts had served the Maine Warden Service for 18 years, the last three as a pilot. He joined the agency in 2008 after a stint as a deputy for the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department and earned his pilot’s license in 2023. His father, Doug Tibbetts, was a longtime game warden in central Maine. Friends and colleagues described Joshua as “cool‑headed” in a crisis and “always smiling.” Outside of work, he enjoyed hunting and snowmobiling.
The loss of Tibbetts marks the 16th game warden and the fourth pilot to die in the line of duty in the Maine Warden Service’s 146‑year history. A memorial service was held at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, where hundreds of mourners gathered to honor the dedicated officer, pilot, and friend. The event celebrated his commitment to protecting Maine’s natural resources and the community he served.
The NTSB stated that it typically completes investigations within one to two years of an incident. The preliminary report, released on Tuesday, does not provide a definitive cause of the crash, and investigators will continue to examine the wreckage, flight data, and weather conditions before reaching a conclusion.
Maine officials have expressed condolences to Tibbetts’ family and the Warden Service, underscoring the agency’s commitment to safety and to honoring those who have served in the line of duty. The agency’s public affairs office noted that they will keep the public informed as the investigation progresses.
