Three killed in Oregon helicopter crash
Two aircraft collided near McMinnville Municipal Airport, leaving a student pilot and two adults dead.
By Lily Carter ·
A mid-air collision near an Oregon airport killed three people on Thursday afternoon. The incident forced a temporary road closure and prompted a rapid response from local law enforcement.
Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office records show the crash was reported at 2:15 p.m. near Lafayette Highway and Southeast Stringtown Road. The impact site is located just outside the perimeter of McMinnville Municipal Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board identified the aircraft as an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 and a Robinson R22.
Sheriff Sam Elliott identified two of the victims at a press conference that evening. Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas, was in the Robinson helicopter. Tyler Sturdevant, 38, from Newberg, was aboard the Airbus. A third individual, a student pilot from the United Kingdom, was also in the Robinson. Officials have not yet released the student’s name pending family notification.
Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training company, confirmed via social media that one of its aircraft was involved in the event. A witness standing on a nearby barn roof saw the two helicopters strike one another before hitting the ground. The witness called 911 immediately after observing the impact.
The NTSB is currently investigating the cause of the collision. The crash occurred in Yamhill County, southeast of the city of McMinnville.
Source: WCJB
