A small plane crashed and caught fire near the Crystal Airport late Saturday morning, killing both occupants and prompting a large emergency response.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it is investigating the crash of a Beech F33A airplane, which went down shortly before noon near Southbrook Park, just north of the airport off County Road 81.
NTSB investigators are expected to arrive at the scene later Saturday or Sunday.
Radar records show a 1991 Beech F33A took off around 11:30 a.m. heading northbound before disappearing from radar shortly after takeoff, according to FOX 9. The plane crashed in a grassy area near Douglas Drive North and 62nd Avenue North, according to KARE 11 crews at the scene.
Photos submitted by @RedHartiganWX on X show the aircraft engulfed in flames as a firefighter worked to extinguish the blaze.
The aircraft had two occupants, according to initial police radio dispatches. Both died in the crash, officials confirmed.
A MnDOT traffic camera near Interstate 94 and County Road 81 captured a plume of heavy smoke rising from the area around noon. A wide area was blocked to traffic while crews responded.
Multiple law enforcement agencies and fire crews responded to the scene. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
UPDATE | Sunday, April 26: The two people killed in the crash have been identified as North Dakota state Rep. Liz Conmy, of Fargo, and Joe Cass, a friend of Conmy’s who was piloting the plane. Conmy’s death was confirmed by North Dakota Sen. Tim Mathern, her colleague in the 11th District.
A Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesperson told the Star Tribune that the plane was heading north on a runway when it “couldn’t get up in the air” and crashed into the park.
Conmy, a Fargo resident, represented North Dakota’s 11th District and was first elected in 2023. She was a mother of four, a graduate of North Dakota State University, the University of St. Thomas, and was retired from teaching at Minnesota State University Moorhead. North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong directed all flags be flown at half-staff the day of Conmy’s interment.
Brooklyn Park police confirmed no property damage or injuries on the ground were reported. The crash shut down the airfield for about two hours. The NTSB investigation remains ongoing.
