Three killed in Oregon midair collision
Two helicopters struck near McMinnville Municipal Airport on Thursday afternoon, killing a Texas instructor, a British student, and a local resident.
By Sarah Reynolds ·
Three people died on Thursday afternoon when two helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville, Oregon. The impact sent both aircraft to the ground just outside the airport perimeter, ending the lives of a flight instructor, a student pilot, and a passenger.
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott confirmed the deaths at a news conference on Thursday night. He identified the two victims in the Robinson R22 helicopter as 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom. The student’s name has not been released while officials notify their family.
The third victim, 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant of Newberg, was aboard the Airbus Helicopters AS350B2. The National Transportation Safety Board identified these specific models as the aircraft involved in the crash. Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training company, noted on social media that one of its planes was part of the incident.
The collision was reported around 2:15 p.m. near Lafayette Highway and Southeast Stringtown Road. A witness standing on the roof of a nearby barn saw the two helicopters strike each other before hitting the ground. He called 911 immediately after witnessing the crash.
The scene is located southeast of McMinnville, close to the municipal airport. Authorities closed the area to manage the site. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause of the collision.
Source: WVUE-DT
