Investigators look for cause of copter crash that killed 3 in Oregon

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 31, 2026

Two helicopters collided midair near McMinnville, Oregon, killing all three occupants, including two pilots and one student. Federal investigators are investigating the crash, which involved a maintenance test flight and an instructional flight, to determine the cause and prevent future accidents.

Federal investigators are examining the cause of a midair collision between two helicopters in Oregon that resulted in the deaths of all three people aboard both aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed Friday that its team is en route to the crash site near the McMinnville airport, located about an hour southwest of Portland in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

The accident occurred Thursday at approximately 2 p.m. local time under cloudy conditions. According to law enforcement, the collision involved a larger Airbus AS350B3 helicopter and a smaller Robinson R22. The Airbus was reportedly conducting a test flight typically performed after maintenance or repairs, while the Robinson was engaged in an instructional flight. Both helicopters came down in a nearby farm field, with the red Airbus found crumpled and the green Robinson resting upside down.

Eyewitness Leo Rodriguez, working on a barn roof at a family winery close to the crash site, described the event as a “midair explosion.” He stated that the tail section of the larger helicopter was hit, causing it to lose control and descend rapidly, while the smaller aircraft reportedly fell straight down. “It just happened so fast,” Rodriguez said.

Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott identified the victims as 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant, a pilot from Oregon; 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas; and a 31-year-old student pilot from the United Kingdom whose name has not been released. Aasbo and the student were aboard the Robinson, while Sturdevant was piloting the Airbus.

The helicopters are owned by Jerry Trimble Helicopters and Precision, both of which have expressed full cooperation with authorities. Precision, a company that provides helicopter charter and maintenance services and supports military drone missions, honored Sturdevant as a senior pilot who mentored many others. According to Precision, Sturdevant had been with the company for more than two decades and served as a Federal Aviation Administration pilot examiner for the past four years.

Jerry Trimble Helicopters operates a flight school offering a variety of services, from introductory demo flights to advanced pilot training. Both companies have also indicated their commitment to supporting the families of those killed in the crash as investigations continue. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.