Family identifies 4 people killed in helicopter crash near Superior
'Heart-wrenching': Family mourns pilot, nieces killed in helicopter crash
The pilot involved in the crash was supposed to get married after taking his three nieces on a helicopter ride near Telegraph Canyon. FOX 10's Taylor Wirtz learns more about the people who were onboard.
PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. - New information regarding the victims and moments before the deadly helicopter crash east of the Valley has been released.
The backstory:
Groom, his 3 nieces ID'd as helicopter crash victims in Arizona
The family of the four people killed in the helicopter crash near Superior have identified the victims. FOX 10's Taylor Wirtz learns more the devastating crash that took place on the pilot's wedding day.
The aircraft went down Jan. 2 in a remote area outside of Superior, after taking off from Pegasus Airpark. All four people onboard were killed.
"Eyewitnesses that were in the area said that they saw the blades come right off of that helicopter," a family member of the victims said.
Authorities say initial findings point to a recreational slackline playing a role in the crash. The line had been strung across a mountain range, and eyewitnesses say the chopper struck a part of it before falling to the bottom of the canyon.
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Helicopter carrying 4 people crashes in Superior, killing all victims
Four people were aboard a helicopter when it crashed in Superior on Friday morning, killing them all, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Local perspective:
Family members said David McCarty, a Queen Creek man originally from Oregon, and his nieces—also from Oregon—were those killed. They identified his nieces as Katelyn Heideman and sisters Rachel and Faith McCarty, all in their early 20s.
"He just wanted to show his family around," a relative said.
It was actually McCarty’s wedding day, and he was taking the girls for a ride to see the sights before the ceremony.
"He owns multiple helicopters," one family member said. "He lives in the area. He's flown that canyon numerous times. I would venture to say probably a hundred times, and with no issues."
Dig deeper:
But the helicopter never returned.
"The families lost 50% of their children on the wedding day, which was supposed to be a celebration," a family member said. "It's extremely tough. Nobody ever anticipates this sort of thing to happen, and it's just heart-wrenching."
They said the news goes beyond just the immediate family, impacting everyone in the small town of Echo, Oregon, where the family is from.
"They're just struck with grief," a relative said. "I mean, 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."
What's next:
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the official cause of the crash.
The Source: This information was gathered by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and FOX 10's Taylor Wirtz, who spoke with the family members of the crash victims on Jan. 3.