Two helicopters collide near McMinnville, killing three
NTSB investigates midair crash involving a flight school instructor and a UK student pilot.
By Anthony Foster ·
Three people died when two helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville on Thursday afternoon. The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office confirmed the crash at approximately 2 p.m. and reported that there were no survivors. The accident involved a 1995 Robinson R22 and a 2018 Airbus AS350B3.
The aircraft crashed into a farm field located along Highway 233 near Southeast Cruickshank Road. The first pilot was Tyler Sturdevant, 38, who was flying solo for Precision LLC. The second helicopter belonged to Jerry Trimble Helicopters flight school and carried two people.
The second aircraft contained flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, and Christopher James Joughin, 31. Joughin was a student pilot from the United Kingdom whose family resides in Zimbabwe. The sheriff's office identified Joughin on Friday evening. Officials stated that the FBI, along with UK and Zimbabwe authorities, helped locate his next of kin.
Austin McClister, a new student at the flight school, described Aasbo as a friendly presence over the radio. He noted that while she was not his primary instructor, she frequently encouraged him during practice. "It was always fun with her. She made people feel happy and welcome, and you could always hear how happy she was over the radio," McClister said. He added that her voice helped him feel better when struggling with landings.
Friends from Aasbo's hometown told local reporters she was an accomplished rodeo competitor. McClister recalled her confident demeanor and Texas charm. "She was in a big old pickup truck with her boots on and a big belt buckle. I always thought she was from eastern Oregon when I first met her," he said. He described her as remarkably accomplished for her age and said the aviation community is feeling her loss deeply.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the collision. On Friday, the agency said the inquiry will examine the condition and upkeep of the helicopters, the actions of the people involved, and the conditions at the time of the crash. An NTSB official noted that the McMinnville airport traffic control lacks a tower. Pilots therefore rely on self-reporting their locations to a shared radio channel.
The NTSB is asking anyone who saw the crash to email witness@ntsb.gov. Officials also stated on Friday that the highways closed around the crash site were likely to open within a few hours.
