by Superior, Arizona — Family members have identified the four victims killed in a tragic helicopter crash in a remote Arizona canyon — a devastating incident that occurred just hours before a groom was set to be married.
The crash happened January 2 in the mountains near Telegraph Canyon, leaving a family shattered and two communities mourning the loss of a man and three young women described as loving, close-knit, and full of promise.
Victims identified by family and officials
According to family members and multiple media outlets, the victims were:
- David McCarty, 59, the pilot
- Rachel McCarty, 21
- Faith McCarty, 21
- Katelyn Heideman, 22
All three young women were cousins, and David McCarty was their uncle, according to family statements. The victims were from Oregon, though the crash occurred in Arizona.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the ages of the three women and said all four people on board the private helicopter were killed.
Family mourns loss of four loved ones
In a Facebook post shared after the crash, a family member expressed gratitude for the support pouring in from across the country.
“My family and I want to thank you all for the positive thoughts, prayers, calls, and text messages,” the post read.
“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.”
‘They had such bright futures,’ mother says
Mary Jane Heideman, the mother of Katelyn Heideman and aunt to Rachel and Faith McCarty, shared a statement with The Arizona Republic, describing the profound loss.
“They were all so loved,” she said. “The girls had such bright futures. It’s just hard to fathom this.”
Friends and relatives have echoed similar sentiments online, remembering the young women as ambitious, kind, and deeply connected to their family.
Crash occurred on groom’s wedding day
David McCarty was preparing to marry his fiancée, Joelleen Linstrom, later that day. According to family members, he had taken his nieces on a short sightseeing helicopter ride ahead of the wedding celebrations.
The couple announced their engagement publicly in September, and following the crash, Linstrom shared a photo on social media appearing to show McCarty fishing. She did not add a caption or public statement.
What was meant to be a joyful wedding day instead became a moment of unimaginable loss.
Helicopter struck slackline before crashing, sheriff says
Authorities say the private helicopter crashed after departing from Pegasus Airpark, located in Queen Creek, Arizona.
Emergency services responded to reports of the crash around 11 a.m. on January 2. Due to the rugged terrain, responders and investigators reached the wreckage on foot later that evening, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a key update, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said preliminary evidence points to a recreational slackline as a contributing factor.
“Preliminary evidence indicates a recreational slackline more than one kilometer long had been strung across the mountain range,” the office said. “An eyewitness who called 911 reported seeing the helicopter strike a portion of the line before falling to the bottom of the canyon.”
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Federal agencies investigating
The crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Investigators are examining flight conditions, aircraft performance, and the presence of the slackline to determine the official cause of the crash. No timeline has been provided for final findings.
Communities grieve lives cut short
The loss of four family members — including three young women at the start of their adult lives — has rippled through communities in both Oregon and Arizona.
Loved ones say the tragedy has left a void that words cannot fill, especially given the timing on what should have been a wedding day filled with joy.
How should hidden hazards like recreational slacklines be regulated in remote areas?
Share your thoughts, condolences, or memories in the comments as investigators continue working to uncover what led to this heartbreaking crash.
