State Senator Doug Larsen and his family were killed in a terrible plane crash on October 1st.
They’re all dead.
Doug Larsen, his wife Amy, and both of their young children are dead.
Republican Senate Majority Leader David Hogue broke the news:
“Senator Doug Larsen, his wife Amy, and their two young children died in a plane crash last evening in Utah. They were visiting family in Scottsdale and returning home. They stopped to refuel in Utah.”
Doug Larsen, a North Dakota State Senator, had taken his family to visit relatives in Arizona and were on their way home when the accident occurred.
Doug Larsen, a Republican state senator from North Dakota, was killed alongside his wife and their two children when the plane they were traveling in crashed in Utah Sunday evening, according to an email obtained by the AP. https://t.co/KEw8KIvAM5
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) October 2, 2023
The Grand County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that four people died in a crash, but did not reveal their identites.
You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to realize who they were talking about.
“At approximately 8:30 p.m. the Grand County Sheriff’s Office received information from a reporting party of a plane going into the ground shortly after taking off from the Canyonlands Airfield north of Moab,” authorities said. ”
Grand County Sheriff’s Deputies, Moab Fire Department personnel and Emergency Medical technicians responded. Classical Air Medical located the downed aircraft and an assessment of patients is currently underway. Further information will be presented as soon as possible.”
The National Transportation Safety Bureau also confirmed that they were investigating the crash.
NTSB investigating the Oct. 1 crash of Piper PA-28-140 airplane near Moab, Utah.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) October 2, 2023
I’m no pilot, so I’m not sure if the critics on Twitter actually know what they’re talking about, but they seem to have come to the consensus that whatever was loaded into the plane was simply too heavy for the type of aircraft.
Just looking at the specs. Yeah. Not a strong choice if traveling northeast off of that runway with 700 ft to climb in 4.5 miles to make it over those bluffs. Starting alt 4,300 ft.
— Sam Curdle (@SamCurdle) October 3, 2023
PA28-140 is underpowered. 4580ft elevation, not sure of density altitude at the time. Prob full fuel to help get home. Prob over gross weight. Also terrain in the area. SAD…
— Mike C (@MikeC31269221) October 3, 2023
This is criminal. Manslaughter. Private pilots killing their families. A PA28 , fully loaded from DA above 5000 feet. It won't climb! Terrible tragedy.
— CitiLaw (@PrioFrank) October 3, 2023
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.