A Maine game warden and experienced pilot, Joshua Tibbetts, was killed when his Cessna 185F crashed in a wooded area in Avon on Tuesday.

Authorities said he was the only person on board, and the crash is being investigated by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board.

Officials from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife described Tibbetts as a dedicated public servant with 18 years of service.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane flying erratically before it disappeared behind mountains shortly before the crash, People.com has reported.

State officials and law enforcement expressed grief and emphasized the risks faced by first responders and public safety personnel.