Three people died Thursday afternoon when two helicopters collided midair and crashed into a farm field near McMinnville, Oregon. The collision, which occurred around 2:10 p.m. on October 29, 2026, forced the closure of a key highway and triggered a federal investigation into the cause of the accident.
The crash claiming the lives of a pilot, an instructor, and a student. The human cost is stark: a 22-year-old instructor from Texas, a 38-year-old Oregon pilot, and a student from the United Kingdom, all of whom perished in the wreckage.
The Victims and the Aircraft
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott confirmed the identities of two of the deceased during a news conference. Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom were aboard a Robinson R22, according to the sheriff. The name of the British student has not been released while authorities work with the FBI and the consulate to notify the family.
The second aircraft, an Airbus H125 (also identified as an AS350B3), was carrying a single occupant. That pilot was identified as 38-year-old Tyler Delane Sturdevant of Newberg, Oregon. The disparity in the aircraft is notable; the Robinson R22 is a compact two-seat trainer, while the Airbus H125 is a machine capable of carrying up to six passengers depending on its configuration.
The wreckage left a grim scene in the Yamhill County field. Photos released by the sheriff’s department show the green Robinson helicopter overturned and the red Airbus crumpled in pieces.
Three people were killed when two helicopters collided midair near McMinnville Airport in Oregon on Thursday afternoon.Follow: https://t.co/Ez42KDdHXv pic.twitter.com/tmkfEj1s5T
Timeline of the Collision
The sequence of events unfolded rapidly on Thursday afternoon:
- 2:10 p.m.: The midair collision occurs near the intersection of Highway 33 and Cruickshank Road, southeast of McMinnville, according to witness reports.
- 2:15 p.m.: Emergency crews respond to reports of a crash a few miles east of the McMinnville Airport.
- Thursday Evening: Recovery efforts continue at the crash site as the area is secured.
The proximity to the McMinnville Airport—a 650-acre facility with two paved runways—is noted as the crash occurred a few miles east of the airport. The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 233 one mile west of Dayton, with no immediate estimate for reopening.
FAA and NTSB Investigate Jerry Trimble Helicopters Crash
One of the aircraft involved belonged to Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a school based at the McMinnville Airport that provides everything from introductory demo flights to advanced professional training. In a social media statement, the school expressed that their “hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event.”
The investigation is now in the hands of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
“Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event,” the school said in a statement posted on social media.
The Stakes of Midair Collisions
For the McMinnville community, this event disrupts the peace of a town of 34,000 people and casts a shadow over the North American Aerospace Museum and nearby residential areas.
Until the NTSB determines the cause of the collision, three people have died after the aircraft crashed into an Oregon farm field.
