Joelleen M. Linstrom and David McCarty | Source: Facebook/joelleen
Groom-to-Be David McCarty and His 3 Nieces Tragically Die in Arizona Helicopter Crash on His Wedding Day — Here’s What We Know
A scenic flight meant to mark a celebration ended in tragedy in the Arizona mountains, leaving four family members dead.
A celebration turned to unimaginable heartbreak when a groom-to-be and his three nieces were killed in a helicopter crash just hours before his wedding.
The aircraft went down in the remote mountains near Superior, Arizona, just hours before the wedding ceremony. Investigators are now examining what led to the fatal plunge.
On January 3, 2026, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) confirmed that four people had died in a helicopter crash near Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior. The accident reportedly occurred around 11 a.m. on January 2.
The helicopter had taken off from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, piloted by 59-year-old David McCarty, who brought his nieces along for a brief scenic flight ahead of the ceremony. Family members identified the victims as Katelyn Heideman, 22, and sisters Rachel and Faith, both 21.
According to relatives, McCarty was set to marry his fiancée, Joelleen M. Linstrom, later that day, but took his nieces on a short flight beforehand.
Responders from the PCSO’s Search and Rescue, Queen Valley Fire, Superior Fire, and the U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) reached the remote site on foot, joined by investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In a Facebook post, family member Elizabeth Gallup confirmed the names and described the loss as “unimaginable.” She thanked the public for their support during the family’s grief.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation, according to the PCSO.
Later that evening, authorities revealed that preliminary evidence suggested the helicopter struck a recreational slackline, more than a kilometer long, suspended across the range.
A 911 caller reported seeing the aircraft hit the line before it fell into the canyon. Officials have not stated who installed the slackline or whether it had been permitted.
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