Two helicopters collided and crashed into a farm field near the McMinnville Airport southwest of Oregon, Portland on Thursday, killing all three people aboard and closing a key highway, authorities said.
What We Know So Far
Emergency crews responded around 2:15 p.m. to reports of a crash a few miles east of the airport, the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office said. By Thursday evening, officials were still working on recovery.
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott identified the dead at a news conference as pilot Tyler Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon, flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, of Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom whose name has not been released. Aasbo and the student were aboard one aircraft, and Sturdevant was aboard the other, the sheriff’s office said.
Photos posted by the sheriff’s department show a green helicopter upside down in a field and a red helicopter crumpled in pieces nearby.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision was between a Robinson R22, a two seat aircraft, and an Airbus H125, which can carry up to six passengers depending on its configuration. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, and the FAA is also investigating.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said Highway 233 is closed 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) west of Dayton, with no estimate for reopening. Local roads were also closed, and the sheriff’s office urged the public to stay away.
What Authorities Are Saying
One of the helicopters belonged to Jerry Trimble Helicopters, an aviation school based at the airport. “Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event,” the school said in a statement. It said it is cooperating with authorities to secure the site and determine the cause.
The school offers training from demo flights to advanced instruction. Last year it posted a photo of Aasbo, describing her as a new private pilot heading into instrument training. “These two are on to great things!” the post said.
Differing Accounts
The sources differ on who was aboard which helicopter. The sheriff’s office said Aasbo and the student pilot were on one aircraft and Sturdevant on the other. CBS News reported that the FAA said only the pilot was aboard the Robinson R22 and that two people were aboard the Airbus H125, while the sheriff’s office identified the two people aboard the R22 as Aasbo and the student. The sources did not resolve the difference.
The location is also described differently. The AP said the crash was a few miles east of the airport, and CBS News said it was in a field near a highway southeast of McMinnville. CBS News called the collision a midair one, and the circumstances remain unclear.
Why This Matters
McMinnville, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Portland, has about 34,000 people. The small airport sits on 650 acres (263 hectares) with two paved runways, is partly bordered by homes and is near the North American Aerospace Museum. It remained open Thursday, according to its website.
What Happens Next
The NTSB and FAA will work to determine what caused the collision. Highway 233 remains closed, with no reopening time given. The name of the student pilot has not been released.
Sources: the Associated Press and CBS News
