Two people died after a small single‑engine aircraft registered to Harv’s Air went down near Kisbey, Saskatchewan during a night cross‑country flight, the company and federal agencies confirmed Friday.
Agencies responding; search located wreckage in evening
The aircraft, a Cessna 172, was reported overdue after it failed to arrive as expected, prompting a coordinated response led by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton and later transferred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has opened an investigation into the crash.
Harv’s Air, the flight school the plane was registered to, said the flight left Regina bound for Steinbach, Manitoba, with an intermediate stop planned in Carlyle, Saskatchewan. The trip was a night cross‑country exercise and both occupants were licensed pilots who had rented the aircraft to build hours toward their commercial pilot licences.
“The entire Harv's Air family is shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Both pilots had close ties to their fellow students and instructors. We extend our deepest condolences to family and friends,”
Lieutenant Zoë Hollander, a public affairs officer for the Trenton rescue centre, said a CC‑138 Hercules from 435 Squadron located the crash site. Search and rescue technicians were inserted by parachute to reach the scene. Harv’s Air said search crews found the aircraft at about 6 p.m. CDT and both occupants were dead at the site.
What is known so far
- Aircraft: Cessna 172, registered to Harv’s Air of St. Andrews, Manitoba.
- Flight plan: Regina to Steinbach with a planned stop in Carlyle; night cross‑country flight.
- Occupants: two licensed pilots renting to gain commercial licence hours; both deceased.
- Timeline: aircraft reported overdue; expected arrival time 10:30 a.m. CDT; located about 6 p.m. CDT.
- Agencies: Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (Trenton), 435 Squadron, RCMP, Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Expected arrival | Overdue at 10:30 a.m. CDT |
| Crash site located | Approximately 6 p.m. CDT |
| Investigation | TSB and RCMP active |
Wider implications and context
Harv’s Air described the event as a devastating loss to its community of students and instructors. The company is based in St. Andrews, Manitoba, and the operator noted this marks the third incident involving the school since January 2025.
The Transportation Safety Board’s role will be to examine technical and operational factors to determine the sequence of events that led to the accident. Typical TSB work can include analysis of the aircraft wreckage, review of maintenance and training records, examination of weather and navigation data and interviews with witnesses and first responders. The RCMP will handle criminal and law enforcement aspects on the ground where appropriate.
Night cross‑country training flights are a routine part of pilot education, used to build hours and experience in varied conditions. Investigators will likely consider factors such as flight planning, pilot experience and currency, aircraft condition, weather conditions at the time of the flight and any available communications or tracking data.
No additional details about the victims or the specific cause of the crash were released as authorities continue their work. The TSB typically issues a preliminary report once investigators have collected initial evidence, followed by a more comprehensive report that can take months to complete.
Harv’s Air expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said the company is cooperating with authorities. The RCMP and the TSB have not released further information pending the outcome of their investigations.
This incident will be monitored nationally as investigators seek to determine whether systemic safety issues or isolated factors contributed to the fatal crash.
