MCMINNVILLE, Yamhill County, Ore., Oct. 30, 2026 — Three people died on Thursday afternoon, October 29, when two helicopters collided in midair and crashed near a small airport southwest of Portland, the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office said.
The collision happened around 2:10 p.m. near the intersection of SE Amity-Dayton Highway (Highway 233) and SE Cruickshank Road, southeast of McMinnville. Witnesses reported the crash to Yamhill Communications Agency, which dispatched deputies, McMinnville Police Department officers and Oregon State Police troopers to the scene.
Responding crews found a 1995 Robinson R22 helicopter and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3 helicopter down in a field next to the highway. Two people were aboard the Robinson, and one was in the Airbus. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. Photos released by the department show one helicopter resting upside down in the field and the other broken apart.
Sheriff Sam Elliot identified two of the victims as 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant, a pilot from Oregon, and 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas. The third victim, a student pilot from the United Kingdom, has not been publicly named. One of the aircraft reportedly belonged to Jerry Trimble Helicopters, an aviation school based at McMinnville Municipal Airport, which said on social media that it is cooperating with authorities to secure the site and help determine what caused the collision.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation into the crash. As of Thursday evening, recovery work at the scene was still underway, officials said. No cause has been confirmed.
We are deeply sorry for the losses suffered by the victims' families.
More on Crashes in McMinnville, OR
This fatal crash happened on Highway 233 in McMinnville, OR. We cover crashes across Yamhill County as they're reported, and you can browse the latest in our Yamhill County accident reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are fatal helicopter crashes investigated?
The National Transportation Safety Board typically leads the investigation into a fatal aircraft crash, usually working with the Federal Aviation Administration and local law enforcement to document the scene, examine the wreckage, and review flight records.
How long does an investigation like this usually take?
Preliminary findings can come out within a few weeks, but a full NTSB report on a fatal aviation crash commonly takes a year or more to complete.
Where do midair helicopter collisions most frequently happen?
They tend to occur near airports and training areas, where multiple aircraft operate in proximity during takeoff, landing, or instructional flights.
