Search ends near Regina as investigators probe night flight
Two pilots from Manitoba-based Harv’s Air were found dead near Kisbey, southeast of Regina, after a night flight that left the city did not arrive at its destination, company and federal officials confirmed Sunday.
The light aircraft, a Cessna 172, departed on a night flight from Regina bound for Steinbach, Man. and failed to arrive on schedule. A search was launched and the aircraft and its two occupants were located Friday evening near Kisbey, according to a statement from Harv’s Air and reporting from The Canadian Press.
Harv’s Air president Adam Penner said the company was "shocked and saddened by the tragedy" and that both pilots had close ties to fellow students and instructors. The company said it is working with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) as the cause of the deaths is determined.
"We are shocked and saddened by the tragedy," said Adam Penner in a company statement.
The TSB confirmed it has dispatched a crew to the area where the aircraft was found. At this stage, officials have not released further details about the pilots' identities, the circumstances of the flight, or what may have led to the crash. The federal agency typically investigates to determine causes and contributing factors and may issue safety recommendations following an examination.
Local impact and next steps
While the crash site is outside Regina city limits, the event has resonances for the region’s aviation community and for residents who rely on small aircraft for training and air taxi services. Harv’s Air is a flying school and air taxi operator based in Manitoba; its statement underlined the close-knit nature of flight training communities.
Investigators from the TSB will examine the aircraft, review available communications and flight records, and assess environmental and mechanical factors. The timeline of events as publicly reported is brief but clear:
- Flight: Night departure from Regina to Steinbach, Man., aboard a Cessna 172.
- Missing: Aircraft did not arrive as scheduled, prompting a search.
- Found: Plane and both occupants located Friday evening near Kisbey, southeast of Regina.
- Investigation: TSB dispatched a team to the site to begin an on-site probe.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | Cessna 172 |
| Origin | Regina |
| Destination | Steinbach, Man. |
| Location found | Kisbey, southeast of Regina |
| Agency investigating | Transportation Safety Board of Canada |
Officials with local emergency services or the Regina International Airport were not quoted in initial reports. The TSB typically coordinates with municipal authorities and the RCMP when conducting field investigations; any road or area closures around the crash site would be managed by those local agencies.
For the tight-knit networks of flight instructors, students and air taxi operators that operate across the Prairies, incidents like this reverberate beyond the immediate loss. Training programmes, maintenance practices, weather assessments and dispatch routines are among the elements that will come under scrutiny as part of the federal review.
Harv’s Air emphasised its cooperation with investigators and its grief over the loss. The TSB’s on-the-ground work may take days or weeks, depending on what must be examined and whether components are sent for laboratory analysis. The agency’s final report, which aims to identify causal factors and safety recommendations, can take many months.
Regina residents seeking updates can expect statements from the TSB and Harv’s Air as the investigation proceeds. The facts confirmed so far are limited: a night flight from Regina in a Cessna 172 did not arrive in Steinbach; a search located the aircraft and two deceased pilots near Kisbey Friday evening; and the Transportation Safety Board has taken carriage of the investigation.
