Two helicopters crash into Oregon farm field after midair collision claims three lives

Three people were killed after two helicopters collided midair near an airport in Oregon on Thursday afternoon, October 29, prompting an investigation by federal aviation authorities.

The collision involved a Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125 helicopter near McMinnville Municipal Airport, approximately 35 miles southwest of Portland, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews responded to reports of the collision at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time. Both helicopters crashed into a private farm field southeast of McMinnville.

Authorities confirmed that all three people aboard the aircraft died.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the FAA. Officials have not established what caused the helicopters to collide.

Three people confirmed dead

Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott identified two of the victims during a Thursday evening news conference.

They were 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas, and 38-year-old Tyler Delane Sturdevant, a pilot from Newberg, Oregon.

The third victim was a student pilot visiting from the United Kingdom. Authorities withheld the person’s identity pending notification of family members.

According to the sheriff’s office, Aasbo and the student pilot were aboard the Robinson R22, while Sturdevant was the sole occupant of the Airbus H125.

The information differed from an initial FAA statement, which placed one person aboard the Robinson and two aboard the Airbus.

The Robinson R22 is a lightweight, two-seat helicopter commonly used for flight training and recreational flying.

The Airbus H125, previously known as the AS350, is a larger single-engine helicopter used for various missions, including passenger transportation, aerial work, and emergency services.

The aircraft have different sizes and operating capabilities, but investigators have not indicated whether those differences contributed to the collision.

One of the helicopters was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training and helicopter rental company based at McMinnville Municipal Airport.

The company confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the accident and said it was cooperating with investigators.

Federal investigation now underway

Emergency personnel from multiple agencies responded to the crash site, where wreckage from both helicopters was scattered across a rural field.

Photographs released by the sheriff’s office showed one helicopter overturned and another severely damaged.

The collision also disrupted road traffic in the area.

The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 233 approximately one mile west of Dayton, while authorities restricted access to nearby roads to allow emergency crews to work.

McMinnville Municipal Airport remained open following the accident, according to reports. The airport serves general aviation traffic and has two paved runways.

Investigators from the FAA and NTSB arrived at the scene Thursday evening to examine the wreckage and gather evidence. The investigation will seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the aircraft’s movements before impact.

However, authorities have not released confirmed information about the helicopters’ flight paths, altitudes, or communications before the crash.

No mechanical failure, operational error, or other contributing factor has been identified. The NTSB will determine the probable cause after examining the available evidence.

For now, the circumstances that brought the two helicopters into contact near McMinnville Municipal Airport remain unclear.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/oregon-helicopter-midair-collision-three-killed