North Dakota State Legislator, Pilot Killed in Plane Crash in Minnesota

State Rep. Liz Conmy, of Fargo, died on Saturday when a small plane crashed and caught fire just outside of Minneapolis, officials said.

Audrey Simons

Published: 4/27/2026, 1:58:18 PM EDT

North Dakota State Legislator, Pilot Killed in Plane Crash in Minnesota — A crime scene tape is seen in this file photo. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

North Dakota State Rep. Liz Conmy, of Fargo, and a pilot were killed over the weekend when a small plane crashed and caught fire in Minnesota, officials said.

Police and fire crews were dispatched to Southbrook Park in Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis, just before noon on Saturday after receiving a report of a downed airplane near the Crystal Airport, local authorities shared in a press release.

Firefighters put out the blaze, but both occupants of the plane did not survive, police said. No one on the ground was injured, and no property damage was reported.

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong confirmed Conmy's death in a statement, directing all flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of her interment.

"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," Armstrong said. "[My wife] and I are saddened by this tragic loss and offer our deepest condolences to her family, friends and fellow legislators. We ask North Dakotans to join us in keeping them in our prayers."

Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden also expressed condolences to Conmy's family, describing the lawmaker as a dear friend.

"Liz brought integrity, compassion and unwavering dedication to her work on the Education and Judiciary committees, and I was proud to partner with her on efforts to strengthen our schools," Strinden said. "My thoughts are with her family and all who knew and loved her."

In a statement shared on X, the North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party, an affiliate of the national Democratic Party, wrote that the organization was "completely heartbroken and gutted," calling Conmy's death a profound loss for the entire state.

Conmy, a former communications professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead and farmer, had represented District 11 in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2022. She is survived by her four children.

Officials have not yet released the identity of the pilot. However, KSTP 5 Eyewitness News reported that Conmy's partner, retired Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joseph Cass, had been flying the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Beechcraft BE33 aircraft went down shortly after departing from the Crystal Airport, which is adjacent to the park.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, with the support of the FAA and Brooklyn Park officials. The FAA said the NTSB will provide further updates once they become available.