3 killed in helicopter collision that shut down part of an Oregon highway

McMINNVILLE Ore. -- Two helicopters collided and crashed into a farm field Thursday near a small airport southwest of Portland, Oregon, killing all three people on board and forcing the closure of a key highway, authorities said.

The crash killed 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant, a pilot from Oregon, 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom, whose name has not been released, Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott said during a news conference. Aasbo and the U.K. student pilot were on one aircraft, while Sturdevant was on the other, according to the sheriff's office.

Emergency crews responded around 2:15 p.m. following reports of a crash a few miles east of the McMinnville Airport, according to the sheriff’s office. By Thursday evening, officials were still working on their recovery efforts.

Photos posted by the sheriff's department show a green helicopter smashed upside down in a field, while a red helicopter lies crumpled and in pieces.

One of the aircraft came from the aviation school Jerry Trimble Helicopters, which is located at the airport.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families, and everyone affected by this event,” the school said in a statement posted on social media.

The school, which offers everything from demo flights for first-time flyers to advanced training, said it is cooperating with authorities to secure the site and determine the cause of the collision.

Last year, the school posted a photo of Aasbo standing with another person in front of a helicopter and described her as a new private pilot going into instrument training.

“These two are on to great things!” the post said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision was between a Robinson R22, a two-seat aircraft, and an Airbus H125, which can carry up to six passengers depending on the configuration.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

The Oregon Department of Transportation said Highway 233 is closed 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) west of Dayton because of the crash. There was no estimate for reopening.

Local roads were also closed. The sheriff's office urged the public to stay clear of the area.

McMinnville, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Portland, is home to about 34,000 people.

The small airport situated on 650 acres (263 hectares) has two paved runways and remained open Thursday, according to its website. It’s partially bordered by homes and near the North American Aerospace Museum.