North Dakota Lawmaker, Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash

North Dakota state Rep. Liz Conmy, a Democrat by way of Fargo, and a pilot were killed Saturday as a result of a plane crash in Minnesota on Saturday.

The small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Crystal Airport north of Minneapolis on Saturday morning. Brooklyn Park Police responded to a report of the crash at 11:51 a.m. and located the aircraft, which had crashed and caught fire in Southbrook Park near 62nd Avenue North and Florida Avenue North in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that two people were aboard the Beech F33A airplane and added that no injuries occurred on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and stated that its investigators were expected to arrive at the scene on Sunday.

The pilot was identified as Joe Cass, a friend of Conmy. Multiple sources, including state Sen. Tim Mathern, confirmed Conmy’s identity as one of the two people killed. The North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party (Dem-NPL) also verified her death in a statement.

Authorities have not released additional details about the cause of the crash or the flight’s purpose.

. The North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party (Dem-NPL) confirmed Comny’s death in a statement

Conmy, a member of the Democratic–NPL Party, represented North Dakota House District 11 in south Fargo. She was elected in 2022 and was in the midst of running for re-election at the time of her tragic death.

Conmy served on the Education Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the state’s Human Trafficking Commission. Colleagues noted her background as a farmer operating the family Quam farm near Langdon, North Dakota, which informed her legislative perspective on both urban and rural concerns.

“Liz served her state and community with care and compassion, from her service in the Legislature and on the state’s Human Trafficking Commission to her work on education, habitat and immigration. Kjersti and I are saddened by this tragic loss and offer our deepest condolences to her family, friends and fellow legislators,” North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong said in a statement. “We ask North Dakotans to join us in keeping them in our prayers.”

Armstrong also ordered U.S. and North Dakota flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of her interment.

“I am completely devastated at the loss of our friend Liz. She lived life to its fullest, never shying from adventure or speaking her mind—often in refreshingly direct terms. As a lawmaker, she championed public education, the environment, and transparency. With a wicked sense of humor, Liz quickly made genuine friendships across the political spectrum,” said North Dakota House Minority Leader Zac Ista.

“Truly no one in the House was better at making or taking a joke than Liz. She’s a prime example of how to take the work seriously without taking yourself too seriously. As a friend, I have a whole in my heart. As a citizen, I grieve the loss of an outstanding public servant. May her beautiful children, family, and friends find peace in these difficult times.”