Investigators recover Arizona helicopter that crashed, killing pilot and three nieces

People reports federal investigators have recovered the helicopter that crashed near Telegraph Canyon in Superior, Arizona, on Jan. 2, killing pilot David McCarty and his nieces on his wedding day.

The NTSB said the aircraft has been transported to a secure facility for further examination and investigators are focusing on three areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment. Authorities will review air traffic control communications, radar data and witness statements. Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said the helicopter departed Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek and emergency services responded to crash reports around 11 a.m.; responders and FAA investigators reached the wreckage on foot. The three female victims were 22, 21 and 21, and a relative’s Facebook post said the young women were cousins and that McCarty was their uncle.

The sheriff’s office noted preliminary evidence indicates the helicopter may have struck a recreational slackline more than one kilometer long strung across the mountain range, and an eyewitness reported seeing the helicopter hit a portion of the line before it fell to the bottom of the canyon. The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction at the time. The NTSB expects to release a preliminary report within about 30 days; a final report can take 12 to 24 months, and the FAA is also investigating.

Key Topics

World, David Mccarty, Telegraph Canyon, Pegasus Airpark, Federal Aviation Administration, Slackline