Three Killed in Helicopter Collision Near McMinnville, Oregon

Three people died when a Robinson R22 and an Airbus AS350B3 helicopter collided in flight southeast of McMinnville, Oregon, on October 29, 2026. Witnesses reported the crash at approximately 2:10 p.m. Pacific time, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. Both aircraft came down in a field beside Oregon Highway 233, near McMinnville Municipal Airport.

Deputies and emergency crews found two people aboard the Robinson and one aboard the Airbus. All three died, the sheriff’s office confirmed in its October 29 statement. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board responded to the scene and are investigating the collision.

Who was aboard the two helicopters

The sheriff identified the Robinson’s occupants as Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom. Authorities withheld the student’s name pending notification of family members.

Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon, was the sole occupant of the Airbus AS350B3, the sheriff’s office said. Its statement identified the aircraft as a 1995 Robinson R22 and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3.

The FAA’s initial October 29 notice also identified a Robinson R22 and Airbus H125, another name for the AS350B3. However, its initial count placed the occupants in the opposite aircraft. The sheriff’s later account identifies two people aboard the Robinson and one aboard the Airbus.

Collision reported southeast of McMinnville

Witnesses contacted the Yamhill Communications Agency near the intersection of Southeast Amity-Dayton Highway and Southeast Cruickshank Road. Responders from the sheriff’s office, McMinnville Police Department and Oregon State Police arrived at the field beside Highway 233.

McMinnville lies southwest of Portland. During the emergency response, authorities closed the nearby highway, the Associated Press reported.

FAA and NTSB investigation underway

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the collision, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators have not established its cause.

The NTSB will examine the circumstances of the midair collision. Its aviation investigation records will provide the official basis for subsequent findings.