Royal Canadian Air Force confirms two of its members died in Canada Day plane crash

Capt. Bradley Ashcroft (left) and Capt. Zachary Cloutier-Gill (right) died in a plane crash near Winnipeg on Friday, July 1, 2016. (Source: 1 Canadian Air Division)

The names of the two victims killed in a fatal plane crash Friday near Deacon’s Corner have now been released by the Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region headquarters in Winnipeg.

Captain Bradley Ashcroft and Captain Zachary Cloutier-Gill were flying in a non-military aircraft and were not on duty at the time of the crash.

Capt. Ashcroft served in the Canadian Armed Forces for over nine years. He was a member of the construction engineering branch and was recently posted to 1 CAD/CANR.

Capt. Cloutier-Gill served for nearly 12 years and was an Air Combat Systems Officer. He was part of the air mobility section at 1 CAD/CANR.

David Lavallee, spokesperson with 1 CAD/CANR, said neither are military pilots by trade, and which man was operating the aircraft is part of the investigation.

“As to what kind of training, we are not aware of that. We are not aware of which man was the pilot,” he said.

“This is certainly a tragedy. We’ve lost two members of our family. No matter what the circumstances it’s tragic and right now our focus is on supporting the families.”

Police said they were the only two on the plane.

Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate a fatal plane crash Friday near Deacon’s Corner, just east of Winnipeg.

The board released two photos of the mangled Piper PA 28-140 following a visit from its investigators at the scene.

Police said the small plane that crashed is owned by the Recreational Aircraft Association, based out of Lyncrest Airport.

READ MORE: Two dead after plane crash near Deacon’s Corner: Aircraft association

Pilots told CTV Friday, conditions were perfect for flying. The RAA said the pilot was a beginner to intermediate flyer. The plane was built in a factory and was about 20 years old.

The Springfield Fire Department said when crews arrived at the site Friday the plane was in flames.

RAA president Jim Oke said Saturday he intends to express condolences to the families when names of the two victims are released.

Oke said Friday night the wreckage was removed off the grassy field where it crashed and put into storage at Lyncrest Airport.

Oke said the TSB requested the aircraft to be securely stored.

The Lyncrest Airport is owned by the Springfield Flying Club, which has about 100 members and has been open since the 1940s.