BISMARCK, ND – A plane crash claimed the lives of a North Dakota state senator, his wife, and their two young children on Sunday, according to Senate Majority Leader David Hogue. The family was returning from a visit to relatives in Scottsdale, Arizona, when their small plane crashed shortly after refueling in Utah.
The aircraft, a single-engine Piper plane, crashed shortly after takeoff from Canyonlands Airfield, located approximately 15 miles north of Moab, a popular desert recreation town. The Grand County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that all four passengers on board, including Senator Doug Larsen who was piloting the plane, perished in the crash.
Larsen, a Republican, was first elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020, representing District 34, which includes Mandan, a city neighboring Bismarck. He and his wife, Amy, were also business owners. A bouquet of roses was placed on Larsen’s desk in the Senate chamber in remembrance of the senator and his family.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently conducting an investigation into the crash. An NTSB spokesperson stated that an investigator was expected to arrive at the crash site to take notes of the scene, examine the aircraft, and gather any relevant data, including air traffic communications, radar data, and weather reports. The investigator will also seek to contact any witnesses and gather maintenance records of the aircraft, as well as medical records and flight history of the pilot.
Larsen had a distinguished military career, serving 29 years in the North Dakota Army National Guard. Governor Doug Burgum expressed his condolences, praising Larsen as a dedicated public servant, businessman, and military officer.
District Republicans will appoint a successor to complete the remainder of Larsen’s term, which runs through November 2024.