Witness Describes Final Moments Before Maine Warden Service Plane Crash

A mother and daughter may have witnessed the final moments before a Maine Warden Service plane crashed Tuesday morning in western Maine.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Tammy Baker-Paradis was driving on Route 4 toward her hometown of Strong shortly before 11 a.m. when she noticed a low-flying plane. At first, she pointed it out to her 9-year-old daughter because it seemed unusual and interesting.

Moments later, she realized something was wrong.

Baker-Paradis told the BDN the plane appeared to be rocking side to side in the wind and did not seem to be making much progress over the mountain. After briefly looking back at the road, she glanced toward the sky again and the plane was gone. Her daughter then told her it had crashed into the mountain.

Officials say the Maine Warden Service aircraft crashed around 11 a.m. near Schoolhouse Pond in Avon, killing the only person on board.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife confirmed that the plane was being operated by Maine Game Warden Joshua Tibbetts of New Gloucester. Tibbetts, an 18-year veteran of the Maine Warden Service, was in the area assisting crews on the ground with fish stocking efforts.

Baker-Paradis said the plane appeared to be heading north toward Phillips and looked like it may have had water landing gear attached. She also said winds were strong enough that she could feel them moving her vehicle as she drove.

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts north of the area reaching 29 miles per hour shortly before the crash.

Baker-Paradis said she did not see smoke or an explosion, but first responders’ sirens began within about 10 minutes and continued for roughly 45 minutes.

She said news of the pilot’s death was especially difficult, given how closely connected game wardens are to communities in that part of Maine.

Her thoughts, she said, are with the warden and his family.