Authorities are investigating a plane crash that left two people dead, one of whom was a lawmaker from North Dakota, in Brooklyn Park on Saturday.
The Brooklyn Park Police Department said the small airplane had crashed and caught fire in Southbrook Park near 62nd Avenue North and Florida Avenue North at around noon.
Brooklyn Park fire crews extinguished the fire; however, none of the occupants survived the crash. The FAA confirmed that two people were on board the plane.
No one was injured on the ground, police added.
According to Sen. Tim Mathern from North Dakota, the family stated that one of the people killed in the crash was North Dakota Rep. Liz Conmy.
Sen. Mathern released the following statement:
“We just confirmed that we would be on the same lawn sign! She had a zest for life. Rep. Conmy had a strong work ethic, probably an offshoot of being the only child of farmers near Langdon, ND. She still operates that Quam farm! She was particularly involved in education issues and the environment. She has a loving family. We will all miss her.”
Rep. Zac Ista from North Dakota added, “We’re all just devastated. Liz Conmy was such a warm spirit. She had this joy around her that was infectious.”
The North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party confirmed her death in a social media post, calling her a champion for public education, the environment, and transparency.
We are completely heartbroken and gutted by the loss of Representative Liz Conmy. Her death is a profound loss for our state. As a lawmaker, she championed public education, the environment, and transparency. pic.twitter.com/HhalpUFmeS— North Dakota Dem-NPL (@nddemnpl) April 26, 2026
The other person on the plane has not been identified at this time.
Brooklyn Park police plane crash press conference
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) said that the plane departed Crystal Airport and crashed soon after in a small park just northwest of the airfield. The Crystal Airport was closed for a short time after the crash but resumed normal operations at 2 p.m.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that it was aware of the crash and would be investigating.
NTSB also identified the plane as a Beech F33A, a single-engine aircraft.
NTSB is investigating the April 25 crash of a Beech F33A airplane near Minneapolis, Minnesota.— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) April 25, 2026
The FAA and NTSB are actively investigating the crash.
Daren Wichman says he heard what sounded like the plane’s engine cutting in and out and ran over to Southbrook Park to see what was happening.
“I heard a crunching noise, came around the house, look up, and a big orange ball and then a big mushroom black cloud,” Wichman said.
Another witness, Steve, who lives right across from the park, said, “I felt the whole house shake and kind of like an impact noise … I rushed over while I was dialing 911, and I saw the plane engulfed, could barely make out the tailfin.”
“I do remember the plane leaning as we were at the park, like leaning to the left, like sideways,” said Angela Richardson, who said she saw the plane in the air.
“It’s horrible,” Steve added. “People just died in front of me.”
This crash comes just over a year after a plane crashed into a home in Brooklyn Park, killing the pilot, 63-year-old Terry Dolan.
This is a developing story. Check back later for more updates.
Courtesy of KSTP
