A medical doctor-turned Libertarian Senate candidate in Iowa died when a plane he was piloting crashed around 11 p.m. Monday . Doug Butzier , 59 , was earning less than 2 % of the vote in the competitive statewide race between Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley and Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst to replace retiring veteran Sen. Tom Harkin . `` He was a leader among his peers , '' said Russell Knight , the president of Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque , the hospital where Butzier worked . `` We will all miss his strong , intelligent , thoughtful presence , and we express our collective condolences to Doug 's family , friends , and colleagues . '' Butzier was a practicing emergency medicine doctor and president of the medical staff at the hospital , according to his campaign website . Information about the cause of the crash has not been publicly released , although the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate . The plane failed in its first approach to land on the runway , and it crashed the second time , according to a local news report . It remains unclear if weather played a role in the crash , although it was raining during the day and into the night Monday . Because the deadline for changing candidates has passed , Butzier 's name will still appear on ballots in Iowa next month . Both Braley and Ernst released statements expressing condolences to Butzier 's friends and family . He is survived by his wife and two sons .
Iowa Libertarian Senate candidate Doug Butzier dies in a plane crash Monday . He was a medical doctor at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque . The cause of the crash is still unknown . Butzier 's name will remain on the ballot in the November election .