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A tragic helicopter crash in a remote Arizona canyon claimed the lives of pilot David McCarty and his three nieces on Friday (January 2). The crash occurred near Superior in Pinal County shortly after the helicopter took off from Pegasus Airpark. The aircraft reportedly struck a slackline strung across the canyon, causing it to plunge to the canyon floor. All four passengers were killed instantly.
David McCarty, originally from Oregon but residing in Queen Creek, Arizona, was an experienced pilot who owned multiple helicopters. He was flying his nieces, Katelyn Heideman and sisters Rachel and Faith McCarty, all in their early twenties, to see the sights before his wedding ceremony later that day. The family members were identified by relatives, who expressed their heartbreak over the loss. "The families lost 50% of their children on the wedding day, which was supposed to be a celebration," a family member told KSAZ.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the helicopter’s blades detach before it crashed. Initial investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggest that a recreational slackline, more than one kilometer long, played a role in the accident. The line had been strung across the mountain range, and the helicopter struck a portion of it before crashing.
The loss has deeply affected the small town of Echo, Oregon, where the family is from. "They're just struck with grief," a relative said. "Everybody had a hand in raising these girls."
The FAA and NTSB continue to investigate the crash to determine the official cause.