Report on NE Iowa Candidate’s Plane Crash

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A new federal report provides no answer on what caused a fiery 2014 plane crash that killed a Dubuque physician who was running for the U.S. Senate.

The National Transportation Safety Board report confirms details about conditions the night of Oct. 13, 2014, when Doug Butzier died when his plane went down near the Dubuque airport. It doesn't list a probable cause of the crash. Such information will be contained in the next report, which safety board officials say could be released within weeks.

The report says Butzier, a Libertarian candidate, was returning to Dubuque from a West Des Moines campaign trip. He was flying on instruments because the bad weather prevented a visual approach to the airport.

An autopsy says he died of blunt force and thermal injuries.