Pilot dies alongside 3 nieces on wedding day in tragic Arizona helicopter crash
Experienced pilot David McCarty and his 3 nieces died when helicopter plunged to canyon floor near Superio
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. All four people on board were killed when the aircraft plunged to the canyon floor.
Family members said the pilot was David McCarty, a Queen Creek man originally from Oregon, who was flying his nieces – Katelyn Heideman and sisters Rachel and Faith McCarty, all in their early 20s – to see the sights before his wedding ceremony.
David McCarty died in a helicopter crash in Superior, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2026. (Joelleen Linstrom via Facebook)
Eyewitnesses told family members they saw the helicopter’s blades detach moments before it plunged to the canyon floor.
Relatives said McCarty was an experienced pilot who owned multiple helicopters and had flown the canyon numerous times without incident, adding that the short flight was meant to be a joyful outing ahead of what was supposed to be a celebratory day.
Rachel McCarty died in a helicopter crash in Superior, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2026. (Rachel McCarty via Facebook)
“The families lost 50% of their children on the wedding day, which was supposed to be a celebration,” a family member told FOX 10 Phoenix. “It’s extremely tough. Nobody ever anticipates this sort of thing to happen, and it’s just heart-wrenching.”
The loss has rippled through the family’s hometown of Echo, Oregon, where relatives said the close-knit community is struggling to cope with the deaths of three young women at once.
Katelyn Heideman died in a helicopter crash in Superior, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2026. (Katelyn Heideman via Facebook)
“They’re just struck with grief,” a relative told the station. “When they say it takes a village to raise a child, that’s the epitome of these communities. Everybody had a hand in raising these girls.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the crash to determine the official cause.
News
A STRANGE DETAIL IN THE FRONT SEAT: According to several reports cited by local media, some images from the scene show a small item lying near Declan Berry’s driver’s seat — this seemingly minor detail is drawing attention to the final moments before the accident
Two teenagers in car that crashed into river identified by police The body of Eden Bunn, 16, has been recovered from the River Nene near Wisbech but searches are continuing for 18-year-old Declan Berry. The car crashed into the River…
Breaking News: Police are offering a reward for information leading to Julian Ingram’s arrest, but a RUMORUS SPREADING about just ONE ADDRESS reveals what he fears
Shooting victims to be laid to rest as police offer reward for information leading to arrest of Julian Ingram Authorities believe the fugitive is still alive. Three victims of Julian Ingram’s alleged shooting spree in NSW will be laid to rest this…
THE CHAIR BY THE RIVER: Nicola Bulley’s phone was found neatly placed on a chair while a work call continued in silence — a chilling detail that has left many wondering why the device was left there
Retracing Nicola Bulley’s last known movements: Video tracks missing mother’s journey along river to bench where her phone was found after she vanished without a trace This video retraces the last known journey of missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley who mysteriously vanished…
A WALKER SAID THE AREA WAS “EERILY QUIET” One local told reporters they passed the path shortly after 9:25 a.m.
A WALKER SAID THE AREA WAS “EERILY QUIET” One local told reporters they passed the path shortly after 9:25 a.m. They remembered seeing the dog… but no one else nearby. Investigators later described that stretch of riverbank as isolated and…
THE DOG WAS FOUND FIRST A woman walking near River Wyre around 9:33 a.m. noticed Nicola’s dog running loose
THE DOG WAS FOUND FIRST A woman walking near River Wyre around 9:33 a.m. noticed Nicola’s dog running loose. The harness was still attached… but strangely not clipped to the lead. Nearby, Nicola’s phone remained on the bench — still…
THE PHONE AT 9:20 AM: Nicola Bulley’s phone was found still connected to a work meeting on a bench beside River Wyre — but the mother of two had vanished minutes earlier, leaving investigators puzzled about what could happen in such a short moment
Nicola Bulley: Chilling reality of TikTok sleuthing laid bare as family reveal true extent of torment Ahead of a new BBC documentary about Nicola Bulley, the Mirror takes a look at the chilling reality of the amateur TikTok sleuths whose…
End of content
No more pages to load
