Three Dead After Two Helicopters Collide Near Oregon Airport
A midair collision between two helicopters near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon has claimed three lives, shocking the general aviation community and prompting federal investigations.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:10 p.m. local time on October 29, 2026. A 1995 Robinson R22 and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3 collided in midair and fell into a farm field near Oregon Route 233, about 40 miles southwest of Portland. All three people aboard the two aircraft died at the scene.
The Robinson R22 was carrying 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo of Texas and a British student pilot, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The Airbus was piloted by Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon. Sturdevant worked for Precision Helicopters, based in McMinnville.
The Robinson R22 belonged to Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight school based at McMinnville Airport. The school confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the crash.
Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed that the Precision Helicopters aircraft departed McMinnville Municipal Airport at approximately 1:50 p.m., flew toward Newberg, and was returning when the collision occurred.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 233 in the immediate aftermath.
Source: ABC News – 3 dead in midair crash of 2 helicopters near Oregon airport