Pastor dies in plane crash

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/06/2015 (3234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A well-known pastor from Grunthal died in a plane crash Thursday morning.

Dave Neufeld, senior pastor at Grunthal Abundant Life Fellowship, was piloting an ultralight aircraft when it crashed on farmland southeast of St Pierre-Jolys, north of Provincial Road 210 in the RM of De Salaberry. RCMP responded to a report of the crash around 10:30 a.m.

Neufeld, 59, was the lone occupant of the aircraft.

The RCMP said in a release foul play is not suspected.

David Ross, regional senior investigator with the Transportation Safety Board, was assessing Thursday afternoon whether a formal investigation would occur.

He said the plane hit the ground but he did not immediately know how the crash occurred or what phase of flight the aircraft was in. The aircraft was some 100 yards west of a runway.

Ross said although the Transportation Safety Board may not conduct an investigation, it does not mean a mechancial deficiency or pilot error did not occur.

“We don’t need a full investigation to have safety action taken,” he said.

If a full scale investigation does not happen, he said the Transportation Safety Board will still provide the coroner with information regarding the pilot, aircraft and the environment where the crash happened.

Neufeld’s funeral service will be held Wednesday, June 24 at Southland Church in Steinbach.

Updated: 1:45 p.m. to include the identity of the deceased and at 4 p.m. with an interview.