Helicopter crash kills 4 on pilot’s wedding day in Arizona canyon

A helicopter crash in a distant Arizona canyon killed a neighborhood man and his three nieces on his wedding ceremony day after the aircraft apparently struck a slackline strung throughout the property, authorities stated.

FOX 10 in Phoenix reported that the victims of the crash, which occurred Friday, have been recognized by relations.

The crash occurred close to Superior in Pinal County, east of the Phoenix space, shortly after the helicopter took off from Pegasus Airpark. All 4 folks on board had been killed when the aircraft crashed to the canyon ground.

Relations stated the pilot was David McCarty, a Queen Creek man initially from Oregon, who was flying his nieces — Katelyn Heideman and sisters Rachel and Religion McCarty, all of their early 20s — to see the sights earlier than his wedding ceremony ceremony.

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David McCarty died on January 2, 2026 in a helicopter crash in Superior, Arizona. (Joelleen Linstrom by way of Fb)

Eyewitnesses advised relations that they noticed the helicopter’s blades detach simply earlier than it crashed to the canyon ground.

Relations stated McCarty was an skilled pilot who owned a number of helicopters and had flown by means of the canyon quite a few instances with out incident, including that the brief flight was supposed as a joyful outing earlier than what can be a day of celebration.

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Rachel McCarty died on January 2, 2026 in a helicopter crash in Superior, Arizona. (Rachel McCarty by way of Fb)

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“The households misplaced 50% of their kids on the marriage day, which was purported to be a celebration,” a member of the family advised FOX 10 Phoenix. “It is extraordinarily exhausting. Nobody ever expects issues like this to occur, and it is simply heartbreaking.”

The loss has reached the household’s hometown of Echo, Oregon, the place family say the close-knit neighborhood is grappling with the deaths of three younger ladies without delay.

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Katelyn Heideman died on January 2, 2026 in a helicopter crash in Superior, Ariz. (Katelyn Heideman by way of Fb)

“They’re simply struck with grief,” a member of the family advised the station. “Once they say it takes a village to boost a toddler, that is the epitome of those communities. Everybody had a hand in elevating these women.”

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) are presently investigating the crash to find out the official trigger.