McMinnville midair collision: Three pilots killed in Thursday crash
Yamhill County officials confirmed the deaths of a Texas flight instructor, a British student, and a local pilot after their helicopters collided near the municipal airport.
By Alexander Parker ·
Three people died Thursday afternoon when two helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville, Ore. The crash occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. near Lafayette Highway and Southeast Stringtown Road, just southeast of McMinnville Municipal Airport.
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott identified the victims at a news conference on Thursday night. The Robinson R22 helicopter carried Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom. The student’s name has not been released while officials notify the family. Tyler Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, was the sole occupant of the Airbus Helicopters AS350B2.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the aircraft types involved. Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training company, posted on social media that one of its planes was part of the incident. The crash scene remained active as investigators began their review.
A witness standing on the roof of a nearby barn observed the two helicopters strike each other before hitting the ground just outside the airport perimeter. The witness called 911 immediately after the impact.
The investigation is ongoing. Officials have not yet released a final report on the cause of the collision.
Source: Atlanta News First
