Four people died Jan. 2 when a private helicopter crashed in a remote area near Telegraph Canyon, Superior, Arizona. The victims were identified as pilot David McCarty, 59, and his nieces Rachel McCarty, 22, Faith McCarty, 21, and Katelyn Heideman, 21; David was due to be married that day. Preliminary evidence suggests the aircraft struck a recreational slackline more than one kilometer long; the NTSB and FAA have opened investigations. Responders reached the wreckage on foot because of the remote canyon terrain.
Groom and Three Young Nieces Killed in Arizona Helicopter Crash Hours Before Wedding; Slackline Strike Under Investigation
Facebook; InstagramDavid McCarty; Rachel McCarty; Katelyn Heideman (photo of Faith McCarty unavailable at this time)
Four people were killed on Jan. 2 when a private helicopter went down in a remote area of the Superstition Mountains near Telegraph Canyon in Superior, Arizona. Family members and local authorities have identified the victims as pilot David McCarty, 59, and his nieces Rachel McCarty, 22, Faith McCarty, 21, and Katelyn Heideman, 21 — all from Oregon.
David McCarty/FacebookDavid McCarty
According to relatives, David McCarty had been scheduled to be married that same day. Family posts reviewed by media outlets say McCarty took the three young women on a flight hours before the planned wedding. In a Facebook message shared by relatives, the family asked for privacy and prayers as they process their grief: "My family and I want to thank you all for the positive thoughts, prayers, calls, and text messages. Please continue to pray over every single family member as we process this heartbreak. All the love and support is welcome. We truly have no words right now. They are all in heaven together."
Rachel McCarty/FacebookRachel McCarty
"They were all so loved. The girls had such bright futures. It’s just hard to fathom this," said Mary Jane Heideman, Katelyn’s mother and aunt to Rachel and Faith, in a statement to The Arizona Republic.
Authorities say the helicopter departed Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, Arizona. Emergency personnel responded to reports of a crash around 11 a.m. local time on Jan. 2, but because the wreckage was in a remote canyon, first responders and FAA investigators did not reach the site until the evening, traveling on foot to the scene.
Katelyn Heideman/InstagramKatelyn Heideman
Preliminary Evidence and Ongoing Investigations
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said preliminary evidence indicates a recreational slackline more than one kilometer long had been strung across the mountain range. An eyewitness who called 911 reported seeing the helicopter strike part of that line before it plunged to the bottom of the canyon. Federal agencies are treating these findings as preliminary while the formal investigations continue.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have opened official investigations into the crash. Investigators will examine wreckage, witness statements and other data to determine the sequence of events and any contributing factors.
This remains a developing story. Family statements and law-enforcement updates have been cited by multiple local and national outlets while investigators continue their work. Out of respect for the grieving families, few additional personal details have been released publicly.
Note: Officials caution that the cause of the crash has not been finalized and that early evidence is subject to change as investigators gather more information.
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