Utah aircraft crash leaves North Dakota state senator, spouse and a couple of sons lifeless: ‘Heartbreaking loss’

A aircraft crash in Utah Sunday night left 4 individuals lifeless, together with a state senator from North Dakota, his spouse and their two younger youngsters, a state official stated Monday.

The Grand County Sheriff’s Division stated the single-engine Piper aircraft carrying state Senator Doug Larsen, 47, and his household crashed Sunday night about 15 miles north of the city of Moab, shortly after it refueled on the Canyonlands Airfield. The sheriff’s workplace stated the senator was the pilot and all 4 individuals on board the aircraft had been killed.

“Senator Doug Larsen, his spouse Amy, and their two younger youngsters died in a aircraft crash final night in Utah,” Republican Senate Majority Chief David Hogue wrote in an e mail to his fellow senators, obtained by The Related Press. “They had been visiting household in Scottsdale and returning dwelling. They stopped to refuel in Utah.”

Hogue added: “I’m unsure the place the bereavement begins with such a tragedy, however I believe it begins with prayers for the grandparents, surviving stepchild of Senator Larsen, and prolonged household of Doug and Amy. Maintain your loved ones shut at this time.”

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The Grand County Sheriff’s Division stated the single-engine Piper aircraft carrying Senator Doug Larsen, 47, and his household crashed Sunday night about 15 miles north of the city of Moab. Nobody survived the crash. (Fb/Doug Larsen)

On Monday, a bouquet of roses was seen draped over the Republican lawmaker’s desk contained in the Senate chamber, simply above his nameplate that reads: “D. Larsen – District 34.”

The aircraft crash stays underneath investigation.

An NTSB spokesman stated a board investigator traveled to the scene Monday “to start to doc the scene, study the plane, request any air visitors communications, radar information, climate studies and attempt to contact any witnesses. Additionally, the investigator will request upkeep information of the plane, and medical information and flight historical past of the pilot.”

Officers did not launch the aircraft’s origin or last vacation spot. 

A aircraft crash in Utah Sunday night left 4 individuals lifeless, together with a state senator from North Dakota, his spouse and their two younger youngsters. (Fb/Doug Larsen)

NTSB spokesman Fabian Salazar stated at a information convention that Larsen landed on the airport and the vacationers took a automobile into Moab earlier than taking off within the refueled aircraft.

A preliminary report on the crash is anticipated to be launched inside a pair weeks, adopted by a last report in a 12 months to 12 months and a half, Salazar stated.

An announcement on his Fb account learn: “It’s with nice unhappiness that our group shares within the passing of Sen Doug Larsen, his spouse Amy and their two boys, in a tragic aircraft crash. North Dakota has misplaced a real public servant, Nationwide Guard chief, Iraq struggle veteran, and member of our group.”

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The submit included a photograph of the younger couple and their two sons.

“Doug and Amy had been gracious, honorable, large companions and admirable enterprise leaders. Their lives, and their valuable youngsters’s lives, had been sadly minimize brief. Please maintain their household shut in your hearts, and sometimes in your prayers, as they endure these difficult occasions,” the submit continued.

Larsen was first elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020. 

Roses relaxation on the Senate desk of late North Dakota Republican state Sen. Doug Larsen, on the state Capitol Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in Bismarck, N.D. Larsen, his spouse Amy, and their two younger youngsters died Sunday in a aircraft crash close to Moab, Utah. Larsen was first elected to the state Senate in 2020.  (AP Picture/Jack Dura)

His district includes Mandan, the town neighboring Bismarck to the west throughout the Missouri River. Larsen chaired a Senate panel that dealt with trade and enterprise laws. 

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, additionally a Republican, honored Larsen in an announcement as “a father, husband, coach, entrepreneur, businessman, state senator and lieutenant colonel within the North Dakota Nationwide Guard who dedicated himself totally to every of these roles with an unwavering sense of honor and obligation.” 

“First Woman Kathryn, Lt. Gov. Miller and I are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking lack of Sen. Doug Larsen, his spouse, Amy, and their two younger sons. As a legislator, he was a tenacious advocate for particular person rights and the freedoms he defended by way of his navy service,” the governor stated.

And, “We lengthen our deepest sympathies and prayers to his household and mates and be part of his legislative colleagues, Nationwide Guard brothers and sisters and the Mandan group in mourning the tragic passing of Sen. Larsen and his household.”

Larsen served 29 years within the North Dakota Military Nationwide Guard, first enlisting on March 14, 1994, as a fight engineer. He mobilized twice, to Iraq from 2009-10 and to Washington, D.C., from 2013-14, in response to Gov. Doug Burgum’s workplace. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Service Star and Military Aviator Badge, amongst different honors.

Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, who’s adjutant basic of the North Dakota Nationwide Guard, added: “Doug was a real patriot who devoted his life, each out and in of uniform, to serving others. I had the distinct pleasure to name him a Brother in Arms.”

He additionally stated: “I can’t consider a extra tragic loss for one household, and the North Dakota Nationwide Guard sends our condolences to all of (the Larsens’) family and friends.” 

On this picture offered by North Dakota Legislative Council, North Dakota Republican state Sen. Doug Larsen stands for this picture on Dec. 4, 2022, on the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D. Larsen, his spouse Amy and their two younger youngsters died Sunday in a aircraft crash close to Moab, Utah.  (Andrea Cooper/North Dakota Legislative Council by way of AP)

Republican state Sen. Scott Meyer, who sat behind Larsen within the Senate, remembered him as a cordial lawmaker with a ardour for flying. 

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Meyer stated on Saturday afternoon, Larsen talked within the Senate chamber with fellow senators for roughly an hour about flying planes and dealing on his personal pilot’s license.

“He was enthusiastic about flying. He actually was,” Meyer continued.

He and his spouse, Amy, had been additionally enterprise house owners.

District Republicans will appoint a successor to fill out the rest of Larsen’s time period by way of November 2024. His Senate seat is on the poll subsequent 12 months. 

The Related Press contributed to this report.