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Posted on 10/29/2026 8:15:22 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
Three people were killed when two helicopters collided in midair Thursday afternoon in a community near Portland, Oregon, authorities said.
The collision involving an Airbus H125 and a Robinson R22 occurred near McMinnville Municipal Airport at about 2:15 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration provided to CBS News.
Only the pilot was aboard the Robinson R22, while the Airbus H125 was carrying two people, the FAA said.
The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office later said in a statement that all three people aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash. The two people aboard the Robinson R22 were identified as 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo of Texas and a British student pilot whose name was not immediately released.
The pilot of the Airbus was identified as 38-year-old Tyler Delane Sturdevant of Newberg, Oregon.
One of the two choppers belonged to Jerry Trimble Helicopters, an aviation school based at the McMinnville Municipal Airport, the school said in a statement.
"Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families and everyone affected by the event," the school said.
The circumstances of the collision were unclear. The sheriff's office said multiple agencies responded to the crash site in a field near a highway southeast of McMinnville. Surrounding roads were closed, officials said.
The FAA reported that the National Transportation Safety Board would lead the investigation into the crash. The NTSB also confirmed it was investigating.
The city of McMinnville is located about 35 miles southwest of Portland.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
There is a global shortage of helicopter pilots and the race to fill those slots is risky.
The weather up that way was turbulent with storm cells going through all afternoon.
And it’s not near Portland.
It’s 45 miles from that shithole Islamocommie city.
Really?
The two people aboard the Robinson R22 were identified as ...
Faris Tanyos is a little bit confused. He needs an editor.
Even in the military, they have First Assignment Instructor Pilots (FAIPs) who would be around 23-24 years old (commissioned at 21-22, plus 2 years of pilot training).
There are arguments for and against such junior instructors but the industry has little choice due to the quantity needed through pilot demand cycles.
Isn't that young to be a flight instructor?
Most likely the R22 was a student and teacher from Hillsboro. I used to live in Hillsboro and you could see the horde of Chinese students walking to/from school. (I used to bike to work at Intel and I’d pass them).
IIRC, the name of the company is “Hillsboro Aero Academy”. You can show up with nothing but money and get fixed wing, twin, and helicopter training.
You have to have a commercial ticket to become a CFI (or CFII) and you can get commercial rated at 18, so that also is the limit for a CFI (US Code Title 14 Chapter I Subchapter D Part 61 Subpart H § 61.183). You can get an Airline Transport Pilot rating, the highest pilot’s certification the FAA give, at age 21.
There are oodles of military pilots serving as pilot-in-command of multi-million dollar aircraft who aren’t yet 22 years of age.
22-year old instructor. I think I’ll pass.
Wow
Just seems so young to have enough experience
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‘22-year-old flight instructor
Really?’
Seems ridiculous doesn’t it? My granddaughter is a pilot trained in Oregon. I wouldn’t fly with her for anything. Her instructor was in her early 20s. I choke every time I see a plane crash article. I was stunned when she passed her tests because that that girl can’t read.
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