Questions swirl around what should have been a routine training session near Steinbach, but insiders hint that this tragic midair collision may involve more than just pilot error.
On a quiet Tuesday morning, two student pilots in single-engine Cessnas collided mere yards from the runway, leaving a community stunned and searching for answers.
Conflicting reports about communication mishaps and simultaneous landings have raised troubling doubts: was this crash simply a tragic accident, or is there a deeper story waiting to emerge?
That Tuesday at approximately 8:45 a.m., two Cessna aircraft practicing takeoffs and landings collided just a few hundred yards from Steinbach’s runway.
Adam Penner, president of Harv’s Air Pilot Training School, confirmed that both pilots appeared unaware of each other’s approach despite their planes being radio-equipped.
“We’re struggling to understand how they came so close,” Penner said, emphasizing that one pilot had only months of training while the other was nearing a commercial license. Both pilots tragically died at the scene.
One victim was identified by family as 20-year-old Savanna May Royes, remembered as a beacon of joy and laughter who touched everyone she met during her brief life. The family’s heartfelt statement honored her vibrant spirit and faith, now lost too soon.
Nearby residents Nathaniel and Lucille Plett described the terrifying moments they witnessed: “We heard crackling and banging, then the engine cut out. At first, I thought it was a stunt,” Lucille recalled, “but the crash and explosion told a different story.” Thick black smoke and a second blast sealed the grim reality for those watching in horror.
Harv’s Air, founded by Penner’s parents in the 1970s, has long been a respected institution offering flight training to aspiring pilots worldwide, emphasizing safety and enjoyment. The shock of this accident reverberates through the school and the aviation community.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has launched a full investigation, dispatching experts to the crash site 42 miles south of Winnipeg to uncover what led to this devastating collision.
This heartbreaking event near Steinbach serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in flight training—even at reputable schools with decades of experience. The loss of young pilots like Savanna May Royes leaves a painful void, underscoring the urgent need for rigorous safety checks and clear communication protocols. As investigators piece together the cause, the community mourns and hopes that lessons learned here will prevent future tragedies. tragedies in the future.