Three People Killed After Two Helicopters Collide in Midair Over Oregon

A routine flight training session and a separate helicopter maintenance flight ended in tragedy when two aircraft collided in midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon, killing all three people aboard.

The collision happened at approximately 2:10 p.m. on October 29, 2026, about a mile east of the airport. Both helicopters plunged into a field near Highway 233 in Yamhill County, prompting emergency crews to close part of the nearby roadway.

Authorities identified the aircraft as a Robinson R22 and an Airbus AS350B3. The smaller Robinson was carrying flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, of Texas, and student pilot Christopher James Joughin, 31, from the United Kingdom. The Airbus was occupied by 38-year-old Tyler Delane Sturdevant of Newberg, Oregon.

There were no survivors.

Witness Leo Rodriguez was working on a nearby barn roof at his family’s winery when the collision occurred. He told the Associated Press that he heard an explosion in the air before looking up and seeing the helicopters falling toward the ground.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the Airbus was conducting a post-maintenance check flight, while the Robinson was being used for flight instruction. Investigators said the aircraft made contact approximately 500 feet above the ground.

The crash has devastated the aviation community, particularly those who knew the three pilots.

Aasbo, who was just 22, had pursued her passion for flying after studying wildlife management and participating in college rodeo. She had worked on ranches and spent time in several western states before becoming a helicopter instructor.

Sturdevant was an experienced pilot who had worked with Precision, an Oregon aviation company, for more than 20 years. He was also an FAA pilot examiner and volunteered with Angel Flight, helping transport people who needed access to medical appointments.

Joughin was a student pilot from the United Kingdom. Authorities worked with the British consulate and the FBI to notify his family before publicly releasing his identity.

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation alongside the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators are examining the wreckage, flight records, maintenance history, weather conditions and communications between the aircraft.

McMinnville Municipal Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Pilots operating in the area are expected to announce their positions and movements over a shared radio frequency so other aircraft can maintain awareness of nearby traffic.

Officials have not determined what caused the helicopters to collide. The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report within approximately 30 days, while a final determination could take considerably longer.

For the families of the three victims, the investigation comes as they face the loss of loved ones whose lives were closely connected to aviation.