Midair collision kills three near McMinnville airport
Yamhill County officials identified the victims as a flight instructor, a student pilot, and a passenger, with the crash site located near Lafayette Highway.
By Rebecca Caldwell ·
Three people died after two helicopters collided in midair Thursday afternoon near McMinnville Municipal Airport. The impact occurred just outside the airport perimeter, forcing local authorities to close the intersection of Lafayette Highway and Southeast Stringtown Road while emergency crews responded.
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott identified the victims at a news conference Thursday evening. Maddie Aasbo, 22, a flight instructor from Texas, was in the Robinson R22 alongside a student pilot from the United Kingdom. The student’s name has not yet been released while officials notify family members. Tyler Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, was the sole occupant of the Airbus Helicopters AS350B2.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the models of the two aircraft involved in the crash. Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training company, acknowledged on social media that one of its helicopters was part of the incident. The collision happened around 2:15 p.m., according to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.
A witness standing on the roof of a nearby barn saw the two helicopters hit each other before striking the ground. He called 911 immediately after the impact. The crash site is located southeast of McMinnville, near the municipal airport.
The NTSB is currently investigating the cause of the collision. No further details on the aircraft’s mechanical condition or flight paths were available at the time of the sheriff’s briefing.
Source: WDRB
