A devastating helicopter crash in Arizona has claimed the lives of a groom and three of his nieces, turning what was meant to be a joyful wedding day into an unimaginable tragedy.
Authorities say 59-year-old David McCarty was piloting his privately owned MD 369FF helicopter through the rugged terrain of Telegraph Canyon near Superior when the aircraft collided with a recreational slackline stretched across the mountains.
McCarty had been taking family members on a scenic flight, hoping to give them a memorable view of the remote canyon landscape.
“He just wanted to show his family around,” a relative shared.
The impact proved fatal for everyone on board. McCarty was killed along with his nieces — Rachel McCarty, 23; Faith McCarty, 21; and Katelyn Heideman, 22.
The crash occurred only hours before McCarty was set to marry his fiancée, Joelleen Linstrom. What should have been a celebration of love instead became a day of mourning for family and friends.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the presence and visibility of the slackline at the time of the flight.
