Oregon Midair Helicopter Collision: Flight Instructor Maddie Aasbo and Veteran Pilot Tyler Sturdevant Among Three Dead

The Oregon helicopter crash that claimed three lives on October 29 has now put names to two of the victims. Authorities have confirmed that Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas, and Tyler Delane Sturdevant, a 38-year-old pilot and examiner from Newberg, died when two helicopters struck each other in the air near McMinnville. A third person, a student pilot visiting from the United Kingdom, also lost their life, though officials are holding back that name until relatives have been informed.

The tragedy has shaken the close-knit aviation community in the Pacific Northwest, where both named victims were well known.

What Happened Near McMinnville

The collision took place on the afternoon of October 29 in Yamhill County, a short distance southeast of McMinnville. According to the county sheriff’s office, deputies responded to reports of two helicopters going down close to the junction of the SE Amity-Dayton Highway, also known as Highway 233, and SE Cruickshank Road.

When emergency crews arrived, they discovered the wreckage of two aircraft in a field beside the highway:

A 1995 Robinson R22, a small two-seat training helicopter, carrying an instructor and a student.

A 2018 Airbus AS350B3, a larger single-engine utility helicopter, with one person on board.

All three occupants were pronounced dead. The highway was closed for a period while first responders secured the scene and investigators began their work.

The sheriff’s office later confirmed that the two people in the Robinson were Aasbo and the unnamed British student, while Sturdevant was alone in the Airbus.

Remembering Maddie Aasbo

Maddie Aasbo was only 22, yet she had already built a career in the cockpit. Originally from Texas, she worked as a flight instructor with Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a training operator based at the McMinnville airport. The Robinson R22 involved in the collision belonged to that company.

Her path through aviation had been documented, in part, by her employer. Roughly a year before the accident, the company shared a photo celebrating two milestones at once: a student completing a first solo flight, and Aasbo earning her private pilot certificate and moving on to instrument training. The post praised the team of instructors who had guided her and predicted a bright future for both pilots.

That she went from newly certified private pilot to working instructor in such a short time speaks to her dedication. On the day of the crash, she was doing what instructors do every day: sitting beside a student and helping them learn to fly.

Jerry Trimble Helicopters Responds

Following the accident, Jerry Trimble Helicopters issued a public statement acknowledging that one of its aircraft had been involved in the incident near McMinnville Municipal Airport. The company expressed deep sorrow and extended its sympathy to everyone affected, including the families of those on board.

The operator also thanked local emergency services for how quickly they responded and confirmed that it is working closely with county emergency management, law enforcement, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board. The company asked the public to be patient and to respect the privacy of those involved while investigators gather verified details, promising further updates once facts are confirmed.

Remembering Tyler Delane Sturdevant

Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, was a highly experienced figure in regional aviation. He served as Director of Operations for Precision Helicopters, based in Newberg, Oregon, and held the role of FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, a position that allows a pilot to conduct official checkrides on behalf of the federal regulator.

His professional profile in an online directory for examiners describes a career spanning more than twenty years in the Pacific Northwest, with deep experience in both airplanes and helicopters. His qualifications included:

An Airline Transport Pilot certificate, the highest level of pilot certification.

Instructor ratings covering basic, instrument, and multi-engine instruction.

Authority to examine candidates for Private, Commercial, Instrument, and ATP certificates.

The same profile notes that he had logged thousands of hours in demanding conditions and was respected among pilots for being fair and safety-minded during examinations, with an emphasis on sound decision-making and reducing risk. It also highlighted his clean safety record.

On his own professional networking page, Sturdevant described thirteen years in the industry across an unusually wide range of work. His experience included aerial firefighting, media and film production, yacht support flying, airplane charter, advanced training, and aircraft management. He listed himself as a check airman on the Airbus H125 and Bell 205 and said he had previously held that role on single-engine land airplanes and on the MD 500, Bell 212, and Bell 206 helicopters.

The Airbus AS350B3 he was flying on October 29 is the same aircraft family as the H125, a type in which he had extensive command experience.

The Third Victim

The person in the student seat of the Robinson R22 was a trainee pilot from the United Kingdom. Officials have deliberately withheld the name so that family members can be notified first, a standard practice in fatal accidents. Further details are expected once that process is complete.

The Investigation Ahead

Midair collisions are rare, and they almost always prompt a detailed federal inquiry. The NTSB, with support from the FAA, will examine the wreckage, flight paths, radio communications, weather conditions, and any available data from the aircraft. Investigators will also look at how traffic is managed in the airspace around McMinnville, which is home to several flight training operations.

A preliminary report typically appears within a few weeks, but a final determination of probable cause can take a year or longer. Until then, officials have cautioned against speculation about what led the two helicopters to converge.

A Community in Mourning

The loss of a young instructor at the start of her career, a seasoned examiner who had spent two decades shaping other pilots, and a visiting student pursuing a dream has hit the local flying community hard. Both McMinnville and Newberg have strong ties to general aviation, and many pilots in the region would have trained with, flown alongside, or been tested by those who died.

As the investigation moves forward, friends, colleagues, and family are left to remember three people who shared a passion for flight and lost their lives pursuing it.