Two student pilots dead after plane crash during lessons

Two student pilots are dead after a pair of planes crashed in the morning near the Steinbach South Airport.

At 8:45 a.m., Steinbach RCMP and the Hanover Fire Department and emergency located the two single-engine planes in the RM of Hanover.

RCMP said the two students were dead at the scene. Their names have not been released. There were no passengers in either plane.

The crash took place on private farmland and no debris could be seen from nearby roads. There were mounds of dirt and several white barns blocking the site.

Provincial Road 33N separated the landing strip and the farmland.

The Carillon tried to approach the scene but was asked to leave by RCMP.

Adam Penner, president of Harv’s Air, said the planes were a CESSNA-152 and a CESSNA 172.

“One was in the first third and the other was in the last third of (completing) their Commercial Pilot License,” said Penner.

Penner said the students were practicing takeoffs and landings today.

“It happened when they were on the approach to land. We don’t know exactly how they hit each other yet,” said Penner.

Another student, 18, at Harv’s Air was flying a plane practicing his takeoffs and landings when the crash happened. He was supposed to land seconds after.

“I saw a couple of white pieces, and I thought that was a little odd. I was also like 30 seconds from landing, and that’s pretty intense,” the 18-year-old said.

He said as he was landing, he saw fire and smoke.

“I kind of just assumed it was a garbage fire or something. I still didn’t even fully comprehend it until after I landed,” he said. “It sucks for all the people. I will be keeping a really really close eye for the other planes around me. Not that I wasn’t before, but even more so.”

Classes at Harv’s Air are cancelled today and tomorrow.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada are investigating.