On Sunday evening, October 1, a Piper single-engine plane went down after taking off from Canyonlands Airfield, situated about 15 miles from Moab, Utah. The crash led to the death of all four occupants onboard.
Among the casualties were North Dakota State Senator Doug Larsen, who was the pilot, his wife Amy, and their two children. Prior to the accident, the family had been in Scottsdale, Arizona for a family visit and were heading back home, with a stop in Utah to fill up the plane’s fuel tank.
Senator Larsen, affiliated with the Republican party, became a part of the North Dakota Senate in 2020. He held a pivotal position, presiding over a Senate committee focusing on business and industry legislation.
On top of his political commitments, Larsen, 47, was a lieutenant colonel with the North Dakota National Guard. Furthermore, both he and Amy had entrepreneurial ventures. The North Dakota community has frequently acknowledged their twin contributions to business and public service.
The circumstances that led to the plane crash are being thoroughly examined. The National Transportation Safety Board, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, is leading the investigation into the tragic event.