US EditionHelicopter Crash in Arizona Canyon Kills Groom, Three Nieces on Wedding Day
Pilot David McCarty and three relatives died after their helicopter hit a marked slackline over Telegraph Canyon, with authorities investigating the crash causes.
- On January 2, 2026, a private MD 369FF helicopter piloted by David McCarty struck a slackline and crashed in Telegraph Canyon near Superior, Arizona, killing the groom and three relatives hours before his wedding.
- Slackline safety groups say a Notice to Air Missions was filed for a line 180 metres above the ground, with a recreational slackline over one kilometre long and no highliners present when struck, the International Slackline Association reported.
- An eyewitness who called 911 reported the chopper striking the slackline around 11 a.m. Saturday south of Superior; deputies located the crashed helicopter after departing Pegasus Airpark, and responders reached the remote wreckage hours later.
- The pilot, David McCarty, 59, founded Columbia Basin Helicopters and had over 40 years' experience; the victims included McCarty, nieces Rachel McCarty, 23, Faith McCarty, 21, and cousin Katelyn Heideman, 22, and relatives called the loss devastating just hours before his wedding to Joelleen Linstrom.
- The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have imposed a temporary flight restriction and opened an investigation, while local investigators and responding deputies report family members raising questions about the circumstances.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Crashed Helicopter Recovered After Groom Flying Nieces on Wedding Day Likely Struck a Slackline
The crash resulted in the death of pilot David McCarty and his nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty and Katelyn HeidemanFacebook; Instagram David McCarty; Rachel McCarty; Katelyn Heideman (photo of Faith McCarty unavailable at this time)NEED TO KNOWThe helicopter involved in the fatal crash in Arizona on Jan. 2 has been recoveredThe incident resulted in the death of pilot David McCarty and his nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty and Katelyn Hei…
Helicopter crash in Arizona canyon kills groom, three nieces on wedding day
A helicopter crash in a remote Arizona canyon killed a local man and his three nieces on his wedding day after the aircraft apparently struck a slackline stretched across the area, authorities said.FOX 10 in Phoenix reported that family members identified the victims of the Friday crash.
‘It's extremely tough': Groom takes family on scenic helicopter ride hours before wedding, but none of them make it back
A groom and three of his nieces died when their helicopter crashed into a canyon just hours before his wedding was supposed to happen. David McCarty, 59, was flying his family members in his MD 369FF helicopter through Telegraph Canyon near Superior, Arizona, when disaster struck. According to The Sun, McCarty died along with his nieces Rachel, 23, Faith, 21, and their cousin Katelyn Heideman, 22. The group had traveled from Oregon for what was …
The Mercury news
NY Daily NewsFour family members killed when helicopter hits slackline across Arizona canyon
Four Oregon family members were identified Sunday as those killed when the private helicopter they were in hit a slackline strung across an Arizona canyon and crashed.
Pilot dies alongside 3 nieces on wedding day in tragic Arizona helicopter crash
A helicopter crash in a remote Arizona canyon killed a local man and his three nieces on his wedding day after the aircraft apparently struck a slackline strung across the terrain, authorities said.FOX 10 in Phoenix reported that the victims of the crash, which happened Friday, were identified by family members.The crash happened near Superior in Pinal County, east of the Phoenix area, shortly after the helicopter took off from Pegasus Airpark. …
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