It is likely that the pilot (Larsen) neither had adequate visual references after takeoff nor monitored the airplane’s flight instruments appropriately,” the report said.

A deadly 2023 Utah plane crash was likely caused by the pilot, a North Dakota lawmaker, becoming disoriented while taking off at night without runway lights, federal aviation investigators said. North Dakota state Sen.

- In this photo provided by, North Dakota Republican state Sen. Doug Larsen stands for this photo on Dec. 4, 2022, at the state Capitol