Who is Doug Larsen's wife? North Dakota state senator killed along with spouse and 2 children in plane crash

The plane carrying Doug Larsen and his family crashed shortly after taking off near Moab, Utah

PUBLISHED OCT 3, 2023

Doug Larsen and his wife Amy were killed in a single-engine plane crash in Utah (Facebook)

MOAB, UTAH: North Dakota state senator, Doug Larsen, along with his wife, Amy Larsen, and their two young children, tragically lost their lives in a plane crash in Utah.

The heart-wrenching incident occurred when their single-engine aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff near Canyonlands Airfield, north of Moab, on a fateful Sunday evening, October 1.

Doug and Amy Larsen and their two young children were all killed in the single engine plane crash that is now being investigated (FB) — Doug and Amy Larsen and their two young children were all killed in a plane crash that is now being investigated (FB)

What led to the tragic plane crash that killed Doug Larsen?

The Larsen family's journey had taken them to Scottsdale, where they were visiting family, and they were en route back home when they made a stop in Utah to refuel.

The cause of the tragic crash is currently under investigation, leaving many questions unanswered.

The family was flying out of Canyonlands Regional Airport (FB) — Doug Larsen's family was flying out of Canyonlands Regional Airport (Facebook)

The news of Senator Larsen's untimely death was confirmed by an email sent by Republican Senate Majority Leader David Hogue to his fellow senators.

The email read, "Senator Doug Larsen, his wife Amy, and their two young children died in a plane crash last evening in Utah," circulating the somber news to members of the North Dakota legislature.

Notably, Larsen had a third stepchild who was not aboard the ill-fated plane that Sunday.

"I’m not sure where the bereavement starts with such a tragedy, but I think it starts with prayers for the grandparents, surviving stepchild of Senator Larsen, and extended family of Doug and Amy," wrote Hogue. "Hold your family close today."

Doug Larsen's pictured in a small plane on his facebook page, although it's not clear if this was the same plane the family was in before the crash — Doug Larsen pictured in a small plane on his Facebook page, although it's not clear if this was the same plane the family was in before the crash (Facebook)

Who was Doug Larsen?

Doug Larsen, a Republican, was first elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020 (FB) — Doug Larsen, a Republican, was first elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020 (Facebook)

Republican Senator Larsen, who was first elected to the North Dakota Senate in 2020, represented Mandan, a city adjacent to Bismarck, situated across the Mississippi River.

In the State Senate, he chaired a committee responsible for handling industry and business-related legislation.

Beyond his political role, Larsen and his wife were majority owners of a local hotel, and he also served as a lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota National Guard.

Authorities from the Grand County Sheriff's Office were alerted to the plane's crash around 8.30 pm on that fateful Sunday.

An Air Medical helicopter was dispatched to locate the downed aircraft, while emergency responders from various agencies, including the Moab Fire Department and EMTs, rushed to the crash site.

In a brief statement issued shortly after midnight on Monday, the Sheriff's Office sadly confirmed the outcome, "Rescue efforts were completed. Four occupants unfortunately did not survive the crash. Further information will be provided as soon as family members have been notified," as per Radar.

The initial call to emergency responders was made by a witness who saw "going into the ground shortly after taking off from the Canyonlands Airfield north of Moab."

The National Transportation Safety Board has taken charge of the investigation into the crash of the single-engine Piper aircraft.