Three pilots killed in mid-air collision near McMinnville airport

McMinnville, Oregon, hosts a small municipal airport that serves as a hub for local flight training. On Thursday afternoon, that quiet setting became the site of a fatal mid-air collision that claimed three lives.

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office received reports of the incident at approximately 2:10 p.m. local time. Authorities discovered two helicopters resting in a private farm field southeast of the airport. Sheriff Sam Elliott confirmed at a news conference that the aircraft were a 1995 Robinson R22 and a 2018 Airbus AS 350B3.

The collision involved three people. Two were aboard the Robinson R22, and one was aboard the Airbus. Elliott stated that all three individuals were deceased. The sole occupant of the Airbus was Tyler Sturdevant, a 38-year-old pilot from Newberg, Oregon. The second person on the Airbus was not present.

The Robinson R22 carried a student pilot from the United Kingdom and a flight instructor from Texas. The instructor was identified as Maddie Aasbo, 22. Local authorities are coordinating with the British consulate and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to notify the student pilot’s family.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the collision occurred around 2:15 p.m. near McMinnville Municipal Airport. The agency stated that the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation and provide further updates. The crash site has been turned over to the FAA and the NTSB.

Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a local aviation school in McMinnville, issued a statement on social media acknowledging that one of its aircraft was involved. The company said it was cooperating with authorities to secure the site and determine the cause.

The NTSB has confirmed it is investigating the collision. The FAA and NTSB will release additional information as the inquiry proceeds.