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.

Federal aviation investigators say a deadly 2023 Utah plane crash was likely caused by the North Dakota lawmaker who piloted the aircraft becoming disoriented as he took off at night without turning on the runway lights.

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