North Branch man dies in Rush City airport crash
Windy weather may have been too much for ultralight practice
By MaryHelen Swanson Douglas David Haugen, 43, of North Branch, was killed Saturday afternoon, Jan. 12 as the result of a plane crash at the Rush City Airport. Haugen, according to a witness at the airport, was practicing taxiing his ultralight on the runway. He apparently had no intention of taking off. He left the runway at one point heading off in a northeasterly direction to a grassy area. He continued taxiing on the runway and at one point became airborne going up about as high as the prison water tower, or 300 feet. The plane, it was reported, was suspended about 15-20 seconds, then Haugen tried to turn it around and apparently lost control and came down between the airport and the prison. Haugen owned the aircraft about a month. Witnesses immediately called 911. County sheriff, Rush City fire and Lakes Region EMS rescue personnel responded. There was no fire. Haugen was pronounced dead at the scene. A spokeswoman from the FAA said no registration or licensing is needed for the Avid Flyer ìvehicleî owned by Haugen. Therefore, neither the FAA nor the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would be investigating the accident. Hawk Aviation owner Mark Nelson, whose students train out of the Rush City airport, said students were not being allowed up Saturday because of the windy conditions. Nelson noted that Haugen had been taking flying lessons but was unable to continue with the program because he (Haugen) was unable to receive the medical certification required by the FAA. As a local businessman, Haugen owned and operated the SuperValu grocery store in North Branch from 1994-1999. For the past year and a half he was employed as the Human Resource Director at Green Acres Country Care Center in North Branch. Staff gathered there Monday morning to share memories about the many good things he brought to the nursing care center. Haugen grew up in Circle Pines and served four years in the U.S. Air Force. He is survived by his parents David and Ethel Haugen of Mora, sisters Debra Barringer and husband Tim, Nancy Hiemstra and husband David and one brother James and wife Diane. Funeral service for Doug Haugen will be 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17 at Our Saviorís Lutheran Church, 9185 Lexington Ave. NE, Circle Pines. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. at the church.
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