Donald Campbell, 56, of Waldoboro, was killed when the plane he was piloting caught heavy winds and veered into the trees just before landing on Matinicus Island on Oct. 5 at around 5:30 p.m.
On Oct. 6, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Traffic Safety Bureau (NTSB) were investigating what appeared to be an accident.
On Oct. 11, a spokesman for the NTSB said their investigation is ongoing; a preliminary report is expected to be ready later this week. The lack of conclusive results at this time is typical, the spokesman said.
According to a KCSO press release, Campbell, a veteran pilot, was flying groceries to the island for the commercial aviation company Penobscot Island Air. As Campbell was making his approach to the island, the plane was apparently “disturbed by a gust of wind,” which sent it into the woods. Campbell, alone in the plane, was killed instantly, according to the release.
Heavy winds and rain likely contributed to the crash, said KCSO Chief Deputy Tim Carroll. Campbell had made the flight to Matinicus for Penobscot Island Air many times before.
Born in Damariscotta, Campbell grew up in Waldoboro and graduated from Medomak Valley High School in 1973. Campbell had a life-long love of flying and made his first solo flight when he was 16 years old.
He served in the Army for 21 years, including seven and a half months in the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm. He retired from the Army in 1993.
He was married to Robyn Campbell for 28 years; they had a daughter, Beth Campbell, also of Waldoboro.