Family killed in Utah plane crash landed to refuel near Moab

The North Dakota family that was killed in a Utah plane crash Sunday, flew into Canylonlands Field Airport, near Moab, refueled and left again before the family of four was killed.

[mycookie]

For everyone wondering who they were. The senator was douglas larsen and his wife was Amy larsen with their two youngest boys i believe one was 8 and the other was 12. I work at a hotel they owned and knew them for about 10 years. They aslo ran a construction company and a shelter for people. They were very hard working and humble, i have never met anyone more dedicated to work and to helping other people as much as them specially doug. Unfortunately they passed on my birthday too so now i will forever remember this and feel like a piece of me died on that day now.. 💔

[donnatate]

So sad. To lose an entire family is a tragedy for so many people. My heart goes out to their loved ones.

[mjremy]

Oh how tragic! Those two little boys and the whole family gone, what a loss. My deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. So very sad.

[josephcrowshaw]

How sad, a whole family gone in an instant. May they rest in peace.

[jp]

Pilots already know why this happened. High air density, plane over weight or at limits, probably max fuel, not long enough takeoff roll and only 140 hp....way under powered. This happens many times specifically to pilots who come from the low lands like north Dakota and try to fly in the high altitudes without proper high altitude flight training.

[fredmartine]

From Arizona, my condolences to the family and friends of the Senator and his family.🌹

[danielhawley]

To the people who question how they could have died when the aircraft is relatively intact - those of us who are pilots (like me who owned the same plane) have a pretty good handle on the likely cause, most likely a stall-spin with the aircraft impacting the ground in a flat spin pancaking. The human body can only tolerate so many G-forces esp in the case where the spinal column is compressed. Most likely they died as a combination of blunt force trauma and spinal fractures/dislocations.

[cskiles]

😢 I lost my adult son 3 years ago. It’s been devastating. I cannot imagine losing a whole family. 😢 hugs

[DoudD]

Sad story. An entire family. My condolences.

[aprilherrett]

Praying for all that loved this wonderful man and his precious family.

[thud]

Another get-there-itis crash. Sunday evening, got to get home, 1, 000 mile trip, 4 people, full fuel, high density altitude at night in an underpowered aircraft, this ia insanity and the most senseless and preventable type of crash.

[jimw]

Canyonlands Regional Airport is 4, 590 feet above sea level. The asphalt runway is 7, 360 feet long. This Piper PA 28-140 (N7153R) was manufactured in 1966 and is a fine aircraft with two occupants aboard. But 2 adults, 2 children, most likely luggage, and with full fuel taking off at "high altitude" can combine to keep that aircraft from climbing. It is most likely the plane never got out of "ground effect" lift, stalled and spun into the crash. The pilot should have been able to identify the problem of not climbing and put it back down on the runway with over 7, 000 feet to work with. "Get-home-itis" may have been overpowering. Monday was back-to-work day.

[rhubbard]

Just sad to hear of this tragic loss. I met Doug a couple months back. He ran a hotel in Bismarck where I stayed. He drove us to the airport, and I remember him as a friendly and humble man dedicated to good service.
May he and his family know God's rest.

[Rmkluv]

Just so very sad. Heartfelt Condolences .

[cindycreateforlife]

Very tragic, condolences to their families and friends!

[RaisedrightEnt]

My condolences to the remaining family and friends 🙏

[nps-ddpsavinglives]

Tragic, thoughts and Prayers go out to all affected..

[wlbrobinson]

Really sad.
The 140's had 150hp except for some made in 62-63 timeframe. I had a 140 with 100's of hours flying time.
A 7500 foot runway would allow it to get into Ground affect and climb but density altitude was probably above 6000 foot so that plane at Gross may only climb at 100 foot per minute (or LESS), most Cherokee 140 pilots call this Mushy and is very uncomfortable to fly.

Most 140's have around 900 pounds of useful load, so a 200# pilot 150# co pilot 2-90# Kids and 40#'s of baggage, 50 gallons of fuel is 300#'s, so its easy to be fully loaded.

It would be a bad situation along with rising terrain. A 140 is not a high mountain bird, certainly not at night near gross weight. Many pilots including myself wont fly a single engine plane in the mountains at night, you just don't know what or when your going to hit. RIP all.

[bruceabrahamsen]

I owned a pa28-140. Not a good plane for flying into mountainous terrain. A two place aircraft with half fuel at best. The elevation of that airport was 7, 300 above sea level. The pa28 is a poor performer for those conditions. Flying North from there the terrain rises to over 9, 000ft. A better route was to fly East from phx and turn northbound East of the mountains. Sad outcome.

[jaytee]

Wow, it's one thing to realize you are about to crash, but to be aware that your wife and little kids are about to crash (and likely die) with you....his last conscious moments must have been mental and emotional torture.