A private helicopter crashed in rugged terrain near Telegraph Canyon east of Phoenix on Friday, killing the 59-year-old pilot — a groom set to be married that day — and three of his nieces in their early 20s, authorities and relatives said.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are examining wreckage and witness accounts indicating the helicopter may have struck a recreational slackline that spanned part of the canyon. The crash occurred in a remote area outside Superior, roughly 64 miles from Phoenix, after the aircraft departed Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek for a short pre-ceremony flight, family members said. The victims were identified by relatives as pilot David McCarty of Queen Creek, originally from Oregon, and his nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty and their cousin Katelyn Heideman, all visiting from Oregon. Officials placed a temporary flight restriction over the site as recovery teams hiked in and secured the scene.
Rescuers were alerted late Friday morning after callers reported a helicopter down in the mountains west of Superior. Because roads do not reach the canyon floor, deputies and fire crews made access on foot, reaching the site hours later and confirming no survivors. A relative said McCarty launched the brief flight to show the women the canyon and surrounding ridgelines before returning to finish wedding preparations. Family members described hearing from eyewitnesses who saw the helicopter descend sharply after contact with a line, then disappear below the rim. “The families lost half of their children on a day that was supposed to be a celebration,” a relative said. Authorities have not released official ages for the women, citing next-of-kin protocols in multiple states.
Officials said the aircraft was an MD 369FF, a light utility model commonly used for patrol and sightseeing. It departed from the general-aviation airpark in Queen Creek and flew east toward the Pinal County highlands, a corridor of canyons popular with hikers, climbers and slackline enthusiasts. The crash site lies near Telegraph Canyon Road, where steep walls and narrow spans create natural anchors for long lines strung hundreds of feet above the ground. Investigators said they will analyze flight path data where available, interview witnesses and review any advisories or local notifications about highlines in the area. They did not immediately confirm whether the helicopter’s main rotor struck a line or whether a secondary factor contributed to the loss of control.
Family members in Arizona and Oregon identified the dead and shared photos from earlier gatherings, describing the young women as close cousins with “bright futures” who had traveled for the holiday and the wedding. McCarty, an experienced pilot who owned and operated helicopters in his work life, had flown the local canyons many times, relatives said. The women were visiting from Echo and other small communities in Oregon, and had arrived earlier in the week to help with preparations. The group’s route Friday morning took them into mountainous terrain that complicates both flying and rescue operations, with limited radio coverage and few landing zones.
Witnesses on nearby ridges reported seeing the helicopter fly into the canyon shortly before midday. One hiker told deputies he saw the aircraft “clip something” and then descend rapidly, followed by silence. Another described a line stretched across the span, a common setup among highline practitioners who use webbing to walk or rappel between anchors. Slacklines in exposed terrain often carry flagging or small markers, and advanced groups sometimes post plans in online forums; investigators said they are reviewing whether any notices, permits or advisories were issued for a line near the crash site and what, if anything, local pilots received as a hazard alert. Officials did not release the exact elevation of the span or the length of the line pending measurements.
By midafternoon, Pinal County deputies, state troopers and fire crews established a command post near Telegraph Canyon Road while backcountry teams moved down to the wreckage. The terrain forced responders to shuttle gear by hand and use ropes to negotiate steep cuts. As the sun dropped, searchers marked a path with glow sticks to aid the recovery and evidence teams working after dark. A dispatcher’s log shows a temporary flight restriction was issued over the area to keep the airspace clear. By evening, deputies confirmed that all four people aboard had died at the scene and that next-of-kin notifications were underway in Arizona and Oregon.
Superior is a small mining town bordered by sharp ridgelines and slot canyons, an hour east of Phoenix. The crash occurred during a busy holiday week for outdoor recreation. Locals said highliners occasionally set routes over the canyon when weather and wind allow, choosing mornings for lighter air. Climbers described spans in the area that can extend thousands of feet, strung 400 to 700 feet above the floor. Aviation enthusiasts said the slot-like geometry can compress sightlines for pilots flying low-level scenic routes, making thin lines hard to detect until close range, even with tags or ribbons. Investigators cautioned that they have not yet determined a definitive cause and are collecting physical evidence from both the wreckage and any lines found in place.
Under standard procedure, the NTSB will issue a preliminary report within about two weeks summarizing basic facts: the aircraft type, operator, location, and any initial observations. A full factual report and probable cause determination typically take months. Analysts will review engine components, rotor assemblies and control linkages; examine impact signatures on the terrain and on any recovered line or hardware; and gather pilot records, recent maintenance logs and weather conditions at the time of flight. If a line was present, investigators will also document its length, material, anchoring points and any markings, and assess whether any civil permits or land-use approvals were required for installation in that area.
Friday’s crash drew a wave of grief from friends and residents in the Oregon towns where the family is known. At informal gatherings, mourners described the three cousins as active in church and school activities and said they made the trip to Arizona to celebrate the wedding and the New Year with extended family. In Queen Creek, neighbors left flowers near the airpark entrance. In Superior, hikers paused at overlooks as helicopter and fixed-wing activity gave way to stillness over the canyon. “It’s hard to put into words,” one family member said. “They were here for joy, and the day ended in heartbreak.”
Officials said they are still working to pin down the flight timeline from takeoff to the crash call, including radio transmissions, eyewitness videos and any tracking data captured by onboard devices or third-party services. They did not immediately release the helicopter’s tail number. The Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office is handling identifications and autopsies. Once the NTSB completes its on-scene work, the wreckage will be moved to a secure facility for detailed examination, a step expected early this week, weather and access permitting. Agencies also plan to review coordination protocols between aviation users and highline groups in canyon areas where both operate.
Authorities asked that the families’ privacy be respected as arrangements are made in the coming days. In statements through media outlets, relatives emphasized McCarty’s experience as a pilot and their hope that the investigation will clarify what happened in the seconds before the helicopter went down. Community members in Oregon said they plan to gather for vigils and services once dates are set. In Superior, residents said they expect land managers to review how and when slacklines are permitted across popular spans and whether additional notice mechanisms to pilots are feasible in the rugged corridors east of town.
As of Monday, investigators had not announced a definitive cause of the crash. The next expected milestones are the removal of the wreckage from Telegraph Canyon and the NTSB’s preliminary summary, followed by any updates from Pinal County officials on victim identifications and funeral arrangements.
Author note: Last updated January 5, 2026.