YAMHILL COUNTY, Ore. – Three people were killed Thursday afternoon after two helicopters crashed in a field southeast of McMinnville.
The crash was reported at approximately 2:10 p.m. on October 29, near the intersection of SE Amity-Dayton Highway (Highway 233) and SE Cruickshank Road. Witnesses contacted Yamhill Communications Agency (YCOM) after reporting that two helicopters had gone down in the area.
Deputies with the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, McMinnville police officers and Oregon State Police troopers responded to the scene. They located a 1995 Robinson R22 helicopter and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3 helicopter crashed in a field alongside Highway 233.
Authorities confirmed that two people were aboard the Robinson R22 and one person was inside the Airbus. All three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Robinson helicopter was carrying flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, of Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom. The student’s 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 to determine what caused the two helicopters to crash.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office extended its condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives.
No additional details about the circumstances leading up to the collision have been released.
