SUPERIOR, AZ – What was supposed to be the happiest day of David McCarty’s life ended in unspeakable tragedy when the helicopter he was piloting crashed into an Arizona canyon, killing him and three of his nieces just hours before his wedding ceremony.
McCarty, a man in his 50s from Queen Creek, had planned a special treat for his nieces before walking down the aisle. He’d take them on a scenic tour of the stunning Arizona landscape, giving them a bird’s-eye view of the canyons near Superior in Pinal County. It was Saturday, January 4th, and spirits were high.
The helicopter lifted off from Pegasus Airpark with McCarty at the controls and his three nieces – Katelyn Heideman, Rachel McCarty, and Faith McCarty, all in their early 20s – as passengers. None of them would make it back.
Eyewitnesses on the ground reported a horrifying sight: the helicopter’s blades appeared to detach moments before the aircraft plunged to the canyon floor. Authorities indicated the helicopter may have struck a slackline that was strung across the rugged terrain.
The crash killed all four people on board instantly.
Back in Echo, Oregon – the small town where the family originally hailed from – the news devastated a close-knit community. Three young women, all from the same family, gone in an instant.
“The families lost 50% of their children on the wedding day, which was supposed to be a celebration,” one family member said. “It’s extremely tough. Nobody ever anticipates this sort of thing to happen, and it’s just heart-wrenching.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating what caused the crash. McCarty, who was originally from Oregon, had been living in the Phoenix area.
A day meant for celebration instead became one of mourning for two families forever changed by tragedy.
