NEWBERG, Ore. (KOIN 6) – An instructor and student died when the Hughes/Schweizer 269C helicopter they were in crashed a short distance off a runway in rural Yamhill County, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and a statement from the aircraft’s owner.
The Sheriff’s Office reports the crash occurred around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Northeast Valley Road and Northeast Dopp Road. The impact caused a brush fire that was about 50 yards x 50 yards in size, according to the sheriff.
When deputies and paramedics arrived, they located the two bodies amid the wreckage. The cause of the crash is now under federal investigation. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected on scene sometime Thursday morning, officials said.
On July 6, the victims of the crash were identified as instructor Anthony Gallerani and student Kristian Blackwell.
Yamhill County Sheriff Tim Svenson said witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying low over the field moments before the crash. Svenson said it appeared that the helicopter approached the field from the north. It remains unknown if the helicopter was taking off or landing.
According to FAA records, the helicopter had a valid airworthiness status. Its certificate was issued June 16, 2014 and was set to expire in June 2017. The aircraft is owned by Precision Helicopter, according to the FAA.
Precision Helicopter is based at the Chehalem Airpark, which is about four miles northwest of Newberg. When reached by phone on Thursday morning, the airpark’s manager, Nancy Studevant, said she was unable to comment on any aspect of the crash.
In a statement posted on Precision Helicopter’s Facebook page, a spokesperson wrote that the flight “was a routine night training flight with an instructor and student on board.” The statement continued: “it is very important that we do not speculate what may have caused the accident and what happened in the aftermath, and let due process figure it out.” The company said it has not had an event of this magnitude nor a fatality since the company began operations in 1983.
Precision said in a statement they have voluntarily halted its training flights until further notice.
KOIN 6 News has a crew on scene and will continue to update this story.