Fatal Mid-Air Collision Claims Two Student Pilots at Manitoba Flight Training School

Transportation Safety Board Investigating Tragic Accident at Harv’s Air Pilot Training Facility

A devastating mid-air collision between two training aircraft at a Manitoba flight school has resulted in the deaths of two student pilots, including 20-year-old Savanna May Royes, whose family remembered her as the “essence of pure joy.” The tragic incident occurred Tuesday morning during routine training operations at Harv’s Air Pilot training school in Steinbach, approximately 42 miles southeast of Winnipeg.

Details of the Fatal Collision

The accident occurred at approximately 8:45 AM when two single-engine Cessna aircraft collided while both student pilots were conducting practice takeoffs and landings at the training facility. According to Adam Penner, president of Harv’s Air Pilot training school, the collision took place just a few hundred yards from the runway as both pilots appeared to be attempting simultaneous landing approaches.

The circumstances of the accident have left aviation experts and school officials puzzled, particularly given that both aircraft were equipped with standard radio communication equipment. Despite these safety measures, it appears the two pilots did not establish visual or radio contact with each other as they approached the runway.

“We don’t understand how they could get so close together,” Penner explained in an interview with CBC News. “We’ll have to wait for the investigation to provide answers about what led to this tragic accident.”

The collision represents a rare but devastating reminder of the inherent risks involved in aviation training, even under controlled circumstances at established flight schools with experienced instructors and comprehensive safety protocols.

Victims Identified and Remembered

While authorities have not yet officially released the identities of both victims, family members have confirmed that one of the deceased pilots was Savanna May Royes, a 20-year-old student who had been pursuing her aviation dreams at the Manitoba training facility.

Royes’ family issued a heartfelt statement describing their beloved daughter and sister as someone whose presence brought light to everyone around her. “Savanna’s faith and laughter will forever touch everyone who was lucky enough to have known her during her short life,” the family said, capturing the profound impact she had on those who knew her.

The loss of such a young person with her entire future ahead of her has deeply affected the local community and the broader aviation training community. Her family’s description of her as the “essence of pure joy” reflects the vibrant personality that was tragically cut short in this accident.

Details about the second victim have not yet been released, pending notification of family members and completion of official identification procedures. The aviation community awaits further information about both individuals as the investigation continues.

Training Experience Levels

The two pilots involved in the collision represented different stages of aviation training, highlighting the diverse skill levels typically found at flight training facilities. According to Penner, one of the pilots was relatively new to aviation training, having begun the program just a couple of months prior to the accident.

In contrast, the other pilot was significantly more advanced in their training progression, nearly having completed the requirements for a commercial pilot’s license. This disparity in experience levels adds another dimension to the investigation, as authorities will examine whether the difference in training stages contributed to the communication breakdown that led to the collision.

The presence of both novice and advanced students in the same airspace is standard practice at flight training schools, which typically implement carefully structured protocols to manage traffic patterns and ensure safe separation between aircraft operating at different skill levels.

Eyewitness Accounts

Local residents living near the flight training facility provided disturbing accounts of the moments leading up to and following the collision. Lucille and Nathaniel Plett, whose property is located in proximity to the school, described hearing unusual sounds that initially did not alarm them due to the routine nature of training flights in the area.

“We heard some kind of crackling, banging sound and then the engine turned off,” Lucille Plett told Global News. “I recognized that because sometimes they do stunts around here and they turn the engine off, but they turn it back on. Next thing we heard is a big crash and a big bang, and we knew this isn’t a stunt, this is something serious.”

Nathaniel Plett described the immediate aftermath of realizing a serious accident had occurred. When he went outside to investigate, he observed “a pillar of black smoke coming up and a little bit later [we] heard another bang and there was an even bigger pop of black smoke.”

These eyewitness accounts provide crucial context for investigators seeking to understand the sequence of events leading to the collision and its immediate aftermath. The description of engine sounds and the timing of impact may help authorities piece together the final moments before the accident occurred.