BISMARCK, N.D. – Tragedy struck as a state senator from North Dakota, Doug Larsen, his wife, and their two young children lost their lives in a plane crash in Utah. The news was confirmed by Republican Senate Majority Leader David Hogue in an email obtained by The Associated Press. The small plane went down on Sunday evening just moments after taking off from Canyonlands Airfield near Moab, Utah. The Grand County Sheriff’s Department reported that all four individuals onboard were killed.

Senator Larsen, his wife Amy, and their children were returning home from visiting family in Scottsdale when the accident occurred. Hogue expressed his condolences to the Larsen family and urged his fellow senators to keep them in their prayers during this difficult time. The crash of the single-engine Piper plane is now under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Doug Larsen, a Republican, was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020. Representing Mandan, a city neighboring Bismarck, Larsen chaired a Senate panel that handled industry and business legislation. Apart from his political role, Larsen was also a lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota National Guard and owned a business together with his wife, Amy.

Moab, a popular tourist destination near Arches and Canyonlands national parks, is home to a population of approximately 5,300 people. While authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, the tragic loss of the Larsen family has deeply impacted the community.

In conclusion, a heartbreaking incident occurred when North Dakota Senator Doug Larsen, his wife, and their two children died in a plane crash in Utah. The family was returning home from a visit to Scottsdale when their small plane went down near Moab. Senator Larsen, known for his role in state politics and his military service, leaves behind a devastated community mourning the loss. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing as authorities work to determine the cause of the tragic accident.