Former Mayo Clinic Surgeon & Teacher Identified as Pilot of Fatal Minnesota Plane Crash

Brooklyn Park, MN (KROC-AM News)- A former Mayo Clinic Surgeon has been identified as the pilot of a plane that crashed in the Twin Cities over the weekend. 

Read More: North Dakota Lawmaker Among Victims of Twin Cities Plane Crash 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the aircraft crashed shortly after departing the Crystal Airport around noon on Saturday.

It crashed in a field near a residential area, resulting in the deaths of the two souls on board. 

Former Mayo Clinic Surgeon & Teacher ID'D as One of Two Victims in Fatal Brooklyn Park Plane Crash

A report by KFGO in Fargo has identified the pilot of the aircraft as Joseph Cass, a retired surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. 

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Mayo Clinic’s alumni website indicates Cass retired in 2017. During his time at Mayo he served as a consultant in the Division of Orthopedic Trauma Surgery and Department of Orthopedic Surgery. 

He worked at Mayo from 1983-1986 then returned to Mayo in 2005. He also taught Orthopedics at Mayo. 

Retired Mayo Clinic Dr. & ND State Lawmaker Had Passion for Traveling

Also killed in the plane crash was North Dakota State Rep. Liz Conmy. 

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party confirmed her death over the weekend and described her as a champion for public education, the environment and transparency. 

Friends of Conmy and Cass told KSTP that the couple were passionate about flying and have traveled around the country with the couple.

They also said Conmy had a house on a lake in Minnesota. 

Feds Investigating Deadly Plane Crash

The FAA identified the plane the couple was in as a Beechcraft BE33. 

The agency says the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation and will provide additional updates when they become available.