Yamhill County confirms three deaths in helicopter collision near McMinnville
A flight instructor and student pilot died in a Robinson R22 that struck an Airbus AS350B2 on Thursday afternoon.
By Madison Darwish ·
Two helicopters collided near McMinnville Municipal Airport on Thursday afternoon, killing all three people aboard the aircraft.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office received reports of the crash at approximately 2:15 p.m. near Lafayette Highway and Southeast Stringtown Road. The impact occurred just outside the perimeter of the airport, southeast of the city.
The National Transportation Safety Board identified the involved aircraft as an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 and a Robinson R22. Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a local flight training company, confirmed on social media that one of its aircraft was part of the incident.
Sheriff Sam Elliott spoke at a news conference on Thursday night to identify two of the victims. He stated that 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas, was in the Robinson R22. A student pilot from the United Kingdom was also in that aircraft, though officials have not yet released the individual's name while notifying family members.
The third victim was 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant of Newberg, Oregon, who was aboard the Airbus helicopter.
A witness standing on the roof of a nearby barn observed the helicopters strike one another before hitting the ground. The witness called 911 immediately after the impact. The crash is currently under investigation.
Source: WOWT
