MCMINNVILLE, Ore. (Oct. 30, 2026) — Three people were killed Thursday afternoon when two helicopters collided and crashed in a field southeast of McMinnville, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.
The collision occurred Oct. 29, 2026, at approximately 2:10 p.m. near the intersection of Southeast Amity-Dayton Highway (Highway 233) and Southeast Cruickshank Road.
Witnesses reported the crash to the Yamhill Communications Agency, prompting a response from Yamhill County sheriff’s deputies, McMinnville police officers and Oregon State Police troopers.
Emergency responders located two helicopters in a field adjacent to Highway 233: a 1995 Robinson R22 and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3.
Medical and law enforcement personnel confirmed that two people were aboard the Robinson helicopter and one person was aboard the Airbus. All three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified two of the victims Friday.
The occupants of the Robinson R22 were identified as 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom. The student’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The pilot of the Airbus AS350B3 was identified as 38-year-old Tyler Delane Sturdevant of Newberg.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board responded to the crash scene and are leading the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the collision or what may have caused the helicopters to crash.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office extended its condolences to the families and friends of Aasbo and Sturdevant.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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