Oregon Helicopter Collision Kills Instructor and Two Others Near McMinnville
Two aircraft, an AS350B2 and an R22, collided in midair on Thursday afternoon, leaving three people dead at the scene.
By Robert Herrera ·
Three people died on Thursday afternoon when two helicopters crashed into one another near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon. The collision occurred around 2:15 p.m. near the intersection of Lafayette Highway and Southeast Stringtown Road.
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott confirmed the identities of the victims at a news conference that evening. A 22-year-old flight instructor named Maddie Aasbo from Texas and a student pilot from the United Kingdom were aboard the Robinson R22. The student’s name has not been released while officials notify the family.
The third fatality was 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant of Newberg. He was piloting the Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 at the time of the impact. The National Transportation Safety Board identified the specific models of the two aircraft involved in the accident.
Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a local flight training company, posted on social media that one of its aircraft was part of the crash. A witness standing on the roof of a nearby barn saw the two helicopters strike each other before hitting the ground just outside the airport perimeter. He called 911 immediately after witnessing the collision.
The accident occurred southeast of the city of McMinnville. The road closure at the scene remained in effect as responders worked the area. The investigation into the cause of the midair collision is ongoing.
Source: KCTV5
