Three Killed in Collision Involving Two Helicopters Near McMinnville

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — Three people were killed Thursday afternoon, October 29, after two helicopters crashed in a field southeast of McMinnville, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash was reported at approximately 2:10 p.m. near the intersection of SE Amity-Dayton Highway (Highway 233) and SE Cruickshank Road. Witnesses contacted the Yamhill Communications Agency (YCOM) to report that two helicopters had gone down in the area.

Deputies with the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the McMinnville Police Department and Oregon State Police troopers from the McMinnville Area Command responded to the scene.

Responders located a 1995 Robinson R22 helicopter and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3 helicopter crashed in a field adjacent to Highway 233. Authorities confirmed that two people were aboard the Robinson helicopter and one person was aboard the Airbus. All three occupants were pronounced deceased.

The Robinson R22 was carrying flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, of Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The sole occupant of the Airbus AS350B3 was identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responded to the scene and are leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office extended its condolences to the families and friends of Aasbo and Sturdevant.