A midair collision involving two helicopters near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on October 29 claimed the lives of all three people on board, triggering emergency responses and road closures in the surrounding area. The crash occurred around 2:15 p.m. local time in a private farm field situated near Highway 233 and Southeast Stringtown Road in rural Dayton, a small community positioned east of McMinnville.
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott confirmed during a brief news conference that the aircraft involved were a 1995 Robinson R22 helicopter and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3 helicopter. Responders were alerted to the incident shortly after 2:10 p.m. Personnel from the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, McMinnville Police Department, Oregon State Police, local fire departments, and emergency medical services quickly rushed to the scene.
Initial reports provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that only a single pilot was aboard the Robinson helicopter while two people were in the Airbus. However, Sheriff Elliott updated those details, explaining that preliminary information from emergency crews on the ground determined there were two occupants in the Robinson helicopter and one person inside the Airbus.
Authorities identified the flight instructor aboard the Robinson helicopter as Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old from Texas. Flying with her was a student pilot from the United Kingdom. Law enforcement officials are withholding the student pilot's name while working alongside the British consulate and the FBI to properly notify the victim's family members.
The lone occupant of the Airbus AS350B3 helicopter was identified as 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant, a resident of nearby Newberg, Oregon.
Flight training company Jerry Trimble Helicopters confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the fatal incident and stated that it is fully cooperating with investigators. In a social media post, the company expressed its grief: "Jerry Trimble Helicopters is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our aircraft was involved in an aviation incident this afternoon, October 29, 2026, near McMinnville Municipal Airport. Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event."
Following the collision, the crash site was turned over to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), with the NTSB taking the lead in investigating the cause of the accident.
In response to the incident, local authorities closed several roadways around the crash site and advised residents to avoid the immediate area. The Oregon Department of Transportation shut down Oregon Route 233 approximately one mile west of Dayton near the airport. Transportation officials cautioned drivers that the road closure could be extended as emergency teams continue their work, advising motorists to utilize alternative routes. McMinnville is a city of approximately 34,000 residents situated about 40 miles southwest of Portland.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.