Friend of pilot killed in McMinnville helicopter crash recounts time training together

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. (KPTV) - The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and the National Transportation Safety Board offered more insight into the helicopter crash that happened on Thursday afternoon.

The sheriff’s office says 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo and 31-year-old Christopher James Joughin were in a helicopter that belonged to the Jerry Trimble Flight School when they collided with another helicopter piloted by 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant, who was on a maintenance flight with Precision, LLC.

“McMinnville Airport is a non-towered airport, and so they rely on pilot self-reporting,” said Grant Mills with the National Transportation Safety Board.

As the NTSB continues to gather facts and evidence surrounding the mid-air collision, people who knew the victims are sharing more about the lives lost.

Allison Harding was paired with Sturdevant when she was working to get a pilot license in Tillamook in February of this year. The crash has come as a shock to Harding.

“My absolute heartbreak is for his family. I remember he was telling me about his family. And we were talking about his two kids and his wife, and he just loved them,” Harding said.

What was supposed to be just one day of testing turned out to be two days. Harding says those two days were inspiring.

“Just his knowledge in aviation was really incredible. Just to be able to talk to him, he had incredible knowledge in aviation. I can’t imagine like how many lives he touched by just doing all these check rides and stuff,” said Harding.

Beyond aviation, Harding says she and Sturdevant bonded over their spirituality. As her heart weighs heavy on this sudden loss, Harding hopes Sturdevant is remembered for the extraordinary life he lived.

“He was just an incredible man. And I wish he could know how much he impacted my life and changed it and allowed me to pursue my dream,” Harding said.

The NTSB plans to interview witnesses in the coming days. Investigators say a preliminary report on the crash will be released in about 30 days.