Oregon Aviation: Helicopter Collision Kills Three

A fatal collision between two helicopters occurred near McMinnville, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon. The accident killed three people and forced the closure of a major highway route.

Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott identified the victims during a news conference. The dead are Tyler Sturdevant, 38, an Oregon pilot; Maddie Aasbo, 22, a flight instructor from Texas; and an unidentified student pilot from the United Kingdom. Aasbo and the student pilot were aboard one aircraft. Sturdevant was on the other.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft involved in the crash. The collision occurred between a two-seat Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125. The latter can carry up to six passengers depending on its configuration. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene around 2:15 p.m. Reports of the crash came from a location a few miles east of the McMinnville Airport. The aircraft crashed into a farm field. Sheriff’s department photos show one green helicopter upside down and a red helicopter in pieces. One aircraft belonged to Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a school located at the airport.

The aviation school stated it is cooperating with authorities to secure the site and determine the cause. The school offers training from demo flights to advanced instruction. In a social media post from last year, the school described Aasbo as a new private pilot entering instrument training. The post included a photo of Aasbo with another individual and noted that the two were on to great things.

The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 233 one mile west of Dayton due to the crash. Officials provided no estimate for when the road would reopen. Local roads were also closed, and the sheriff’s office urged the public to stay clear of the area.

McMinnville is located about 35 miles southwest of Portland and has a population of approximately 34,000. The small airport spans 650 acres and features two paved runways. The facility remained open on Thursday. It sits near the North American Aerospace Museum and is partially bordered by homes.