Three people were killed Thursday afternoon when two civilian helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon and crashed into a farm field, authorities said.
The collision happened shortly after 2:10 p.m. on October 29 southeast of McMinnville, about 35 miles southwest of Portland. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft collide near a rural highway, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. Emergency crews found both helicopters in a field beside Highway 233 and confirmed that all three people aboard had died.
Authorities identify two of the victims
Sheriff’s officials identified two of the victims as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon, and Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas. The third person was a student pilot from the United Kingdom whose name was withheld while authorities notified relatives.
One helicopter carried two people and the other carried one. Officials have not publicly explained what the aircraft were doing immediately before the collision, whether they were communicating with air traffic personnel or how close they were to the airport’s normal arrival and departure routes.
The Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to the victims’ families and friends. Associated Press reporting said one aircraft was connected to Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight school based at McMinnville Municipal Airport. The school said it was cooperating with authorities and working to secure the site.
Two very different helicopters
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125. The Sheriff’s Office described them as a 1995 Robinson R22 and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3, part of the same helicopter family now marketed as the H125.
The R22 is a compact, two-seat helicopter commonly used for flight training. The larger Airbus model is a single-engine utility helicopter that can be configured for work including passenger transport, law enforcement, firefighting and aerial operations. The difference in size and performance will be among the many factors investigators examine, but officials have not identified any cause or contributing factor.
Federal investigation begins
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board responded to the scene. The NTSB will lead the investigation, which typically begins with documenting the wreckage, reviewing flight records and maintenance histories, examining weather and visibility, and interviewing witnesses. Investigators may also analyze radio communications and any available tracking data.
Those steps can establish a timeline, but a final determination of probable cause often takes months. Authorities cautioned against speculation while evidence is being collected.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that the collision occurred a few miles from the municipal airport. McMinnville Airport remained open Thursday, while the crash site and surrounding roads were secured for investigators and recovery crews.
Highway and local roads closed
The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 233 west of Dayton, and authorities also blocked nearby local roads. Officials asked residents and motorists to stay away from the area so emergency personnel could work safely. No reopening estimate was immediately available.
The crash left a close aviation community grieving as federal investigators began the painstaking work of determining how two helicopters came together in the sky. For now, the central question—what caused the collision—remains unanswered.
