A 22-year-old Texas flight instructor with a love of rodeo and a veteran Oregon pilot who had worked as a designated examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration died Thursday afternoon after two helicopters collided in midair over Oregon.
Maddie Aasbo, of Texas, and Tyler Sturdevant, 38, of Oregon, were pronounced dead at the scene. The 1995 Robinson R22 helicopter Aasbo was using to teach a flight student struck a 2018 Airbus AS350 B3 flown by Sturdevant shortly before 2:15 p.m.
The student, who was visiting from the United Kingdom and has not been publicly identified, also died in the crash.
Both aircraft came down in a privately owned agricultural field near the intersection of Southeast Highway 154 and Stringtown Road, close to McMinnville Municipal Airport.
A witness told Fox 12 that he was standing on a nearby barn roof when he watched the helicopters collide before crashing just beyond the airport boundary. He said he immediately dialed 911.
Images from the site showed the red helicopter shattered across the field, while the smaller white aircraft lay badly damaged a short distance away.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office expressed its condolences to the families and friends of Aasbo and Sturdevant.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Sturdevant had served as a designated pilot examiner for the FAA.
Maddie Aasbo, 22, and Tyler Sturdevant, 38, died after the 1995 Robinson R22 Aasbo was using for flight instruction collided with Sturdevant’s 2018 Airbus AS350 B3
Aasbo, pictured right, worked for Jerry Trimble Helicopters. In an August 2025 Instagram post, the company described her as a ‘brand new private pilot going into instrument training’ who was ‘on to great things’
The Robinson R22 and Airbus AS350 B3 went down shortly before 2:15 p.m. Thursday
The wreckage of the red helicopter was scattered across a field, with the smaller white aircraft badly damaged nearby
Sturdevant’s profile said he had spent 13 years in the aviation industry and had worked in a variety of operations, including helicopter firefighting, media production, yacht support, airplane charter, advanced training and aircraft management.
Aasbo was employed by Jerry Trimble Helicopters. An August 2025 post on the company’s Instagram account called her a “brand new private pilot going into instrument training” and said she was “on to great things.”
Posts on social media also highlighted Aasbo’s talent and enthusiasm as a rodeo competitor.
In a statement after the fatal collision, McMinnville-based Jerry Trimble Helicopters confirmed that one of its aircraft had been involved.
The company said its thoughts were with everyone involved, including the victims’ families and others affected by the tragedy.
It also praised local emergency crews and first responders for their swift response and dedicated work at the scene.
Jerry Trimble Helicopters said it was cooperating fully with local emergency officials, law enforcement, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board as investigators secured the area and worked to determine what caused the collision.
The company asked the public to remain patient and respect the privacy of those involved while authorities gathered and verified information.
One of the helicopters involved in the collision can be seen in the distance
The crash happened near McMinnville Municipal Airport, shown here
After the crash, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced that every lane of Route 223 was closed about one mile west of Dayton.
Officials warned that the closure could last for an extended period and urged drivers to find another route.
A McMinnville Fire District source told Our News Outlet that all available crews were dispatched to the crash site.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation into the deadly helicopter collision.
