Rep. Liz Conmy and pilot Joseph Cass died after the aircraft went down near Crystal Airport.
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — A North Dakota state legislator and a pilot were killed Saturday when a single-engine plane crashed and caught fire in a Brooklyn Park park shortly after taking off from Crystal Airport north of Minneapolis, authorities said.
State Rep. Liz Conmy, 67, of Fargo, and Dr. Joseph Cass were identified by family members and colleagues as the two people who died. The crash drew an immediate investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. It also brought grief across North Dakota politics, where Conmy was remembered as a Democratic-NPL lawmaker focused on schools, the environment and public service.
Brooklyn Park police said first responders were called at 11:51 a.m. Saturday for a report of a small airplane crash. Crews found the aircraft down and burning in Southbrook Park, near 62nd Avenue North and Florida Avenue North. The plane had left nearby Crystal Airport moments earlier. Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesperson Jeff Lea said the aircraft was heading north on a runway when it could not get high enough and crashed into the park. Authorities said both people on board died. No injuries on the ground were reported, and no nearby property damage was reported in the first accounts from police and airport officials.
The NTSB said it was investigating the crash of a Beech F33A aircraft. Federal investigators arrived at the site Sunday to document the scene, examine the plane and begin removing wreckage to a secure location for further study. Officials had not released a cause by Sunday evening. They also had not said whether weather, engine trouble, pilot decision-making or another factor may have played a role. A preliminary report is expected in about 30 days, while a final report naming probable cause and contributing factors could take 12 to 24 months. The FAA also is involved, but the NTSB leads the safety investigation.
Witnesses near Southbrook Park described a sudden sound, flames and a heavy emergency response. Daren Wichman, who lives nearby, said he heard what sounded like the aircraft’s engine cutting in and out before he ran toward the park. “Such a fire that there’s no way you’re going to save anybody,” Wichman said. Another neighbor, Ashley Capp, said she heard a loud boom while she was inside her home with her daughter. “The police got here in a few minutes,” Capp said, adding that the fire made it clear responders could not immediately reach anyone inside the plane.
Cass was identified by family members as Conmy’s partner and the pilot of the plane. KSTP reported that Cass was a retired Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon. Friends said the couple enjoyed flying and had traveled together often, including to Minnesota, where Cass had a lake house. Authorities had not formally released the identities of both victims in the first federal updates. They also had not publicly released the aircraft’s flight plan, its destination or any maintenance record tied to the plane. The crash closed Crystal Airport for about two hours while emergency crews and investigators worked the scene.
Conmy represented District 11 in the North Dakota House of Representatives, which includes part of Fargo. She was elected in 2022 and had served in the House since 2023. Her official legislative biography listed her as a retired Minnesota State University employee and farmer. She had a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University and a graduate degree from the University of St. Thomas. During the 2025 session, she served on the House Education Committee and the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Her interim assignments included the Judiciary Committee and the Water Topics Overview Committee.
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong said Conmy served her state and community with care and compassion. Armstrong cited her work in the Legislature, on the state’s Human Trafficking Commission and on education, habitat and immigration issues. He ordered flags to fly at half-staff on the day of her interment. House Minority Leader Zac Ista said he was devastated by the loss of his friend. “She lived life to its fullest, never shying from adventure or speaking her mind,” Ista said. Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden also called Conmy a dear friend and former colleague who brought integrity and dedication to her work.
Conmy’s Democratic-NPL colleagues described her as a lawmaker who built friendships across party lines. State Sen. Tim Mathern, who represented the same Fargo district, said Conmy had a strong work ethic and a zest for life. State Rep. LaurieBeth Hager said Conmy brought laughter and energy to the tense work of a legislative session. State Rep. Austin Foss said he was shocked by the call that Conmy had died. “She was a light, she was a shining light,” Foss said. “She was a ball of energy; she was just really fun.”
The crash also shook residents near Crystal Airport, a general aviation airport that serves the north Twin Cities suburbs. The airport handles tens of thousands of aircraft operations each year and has several runways. Southbrook Park sits a short distance from the airfield, in a neighborhood with homes, roads and open green space nearby. The Star Tribune reported that this was the second deadly plane crash in Brooklyn Park in just over a year. Local officials did not announce any new restrictions for the airport after Saturday’s crash, and the field later reopened.
As of Monday, April 27, investigators had not released a final cause for the crash. The wreckage was being examined, colleagues were mourning Conmy in North Dakota, and the next major public update was expected to be the NTSB’s preliminary report in about 30 days.
Author note: Last updated Monday, April 27, 2026.