David McCarty dies in fatal Pinal County helicopter crash

David McCarty dies in fatal Pinal County helicopter crash

Fatal Pinal County helicopter crash death of David McCarty – Obituary

David McCarty, a Queen Creek resident originally from Oregon, died in a tragic helicopter crash in Pinal County, Arizona, on Friday, alongside three of his nieces during what was meant to be a joyful outing on his wedding day.

David McCarty was piloting a helicopter that went down in a remote canyon near Superior, east of Phoenix, shortly after taking off from Pegasus Airpark. Authorities said all four occupants were killed when the aircraft crashed into the rugged terrain below.

Family members identified the other victims as McCarty’s nieces — Katelyn Heideman and sisters Rachel and Faith McCarty — all in their early 20s. The group had planned a brief sightseeing flight ahead of McCarty’s wedding later that day.

Witnesses told relatives they saw the helicopter’s rotor blades break apart moments before the aircraft fell into the canyon. Information shared with family members indicated the helicopter may have struck a slackline stretched across the canyon area.

Relatives described McCarty as a highly experienced pilot who owned multiple helicopters and had safely flown through the canyon many times before. The flight was intended to be a celebratory experience rather than a long excursion.

The sudden loss has devastated the family and deeply impacted the close-knit community of Echo, Oregon, where relatives said residents are struggling to cope with the deaths of three young women at once.

Federal investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are examining the crash to determine the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.