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helicopter accident news

Arizona, United States: A helicopter crash in remote terrain east of Phoenix claimed the lives of a seasoned Oregon pilot and his three young nieces on Jan. 2, 2026, just hours before he was scheduled to be married, authorities and family members said. The MD 369FF helicopter, piloted by 59-year-old David McCarty, crashed into rugged terrain in Telegraph Canyon, near Superior in Pinal County at around 11 a.m. local time, killing all four occupants. Family members said McCarty, originally from Oregon and a long-time resident of Queen Creek, Arizona, had taken his nieces Rachel McCarty (22), Faith McCarty (21) and Katelyn Heideman (21) on a sightseeing flight before his planned wedding later that afternoon. The bride-to-be, McCarty’s fiancée Joelleen Linstrom, was not aboard. According to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, an eyewitness called 911 after seeing the helicopter strike what preliminary reports describe as a recreational slackline stretched across the canyon before it fell to the canyon floor. Deputies and rescue teams hiked into the remote area and reached the wreckage around 5 p.m. several hours after the crash. All four were pronounced dead at the scene. Local family members posted tributes on social media, describing the losses as devastating. “Many have heard about the unimaginable losses in my family. They went out for a helicopter ride in Arizona. The helicopter crashed and they never got the chance to come home,” wrote Elizabeth Gallup, a relative of the victims. McCarty was the founder and owner of Columbia Basin Helicopters, a firm based in La Grande, Oregon, with work in aerial support for power-line construction, logging, firefighting and recovery operations. Family and colleagues described him as an experienced pilot familiar with the area’s terrain, having flown similar routes multiple times. The helicopter departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek before entering the mountainous landscape south of Superior, according to local reports. Preliminary investigation indicates the helicopter may have collided with a recreational slackline, more than half a mile long, strung across the canyon. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with the sheriff’s office, are jointly investigating the incident to determine how the slackline came to be placed in that airspace and whether proper aviation safety protocols were followed. The International Slackline Association confirmed the slackline had aviation markers and that a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) had been issued to warn aviators of the obstruction before the crash. No slackliners were on the line at the time of the accident. Officials said investigators will gather flight records, radar data, maintenance logs, weather information, witness statements and other evidence as part of the formal NTSB investigation. A spokesperson for the NTSB has stated that the agency will lead the effort to determine the probable cause. The FAA and other agencies have urged pilots flying in rugged and remote environments to review all Notices to Air Missions and to exercise heightened caution when navigating below canyon rims and near known obstructions.

Helicopter Crash

Oregon Pilot And Three Nieces Killed In Arizona Helicopter Crash Hours Before Wedding

Aviation Today News Desk / January 5, 2026

Arizona, United States: A helicopter crash in remote terrain east of Phoenix claimed the lives of a seasoned Oregon pilot […]

California, United States: A medical helicopter operated by REACH Air Medical Services crashed onto the eastbound lanes of Highway 50 in Sacramento on Monday afternoon, leaving three crew members critically injured and shutting down a major section of the freeway. The chopper, identified as a medical transport aircraft, went down shortly after 7 p.m. local time near 65th Street, moments after departing from UC Davis Medical Center. Authorities confirmed that no patient was on board at the time of the crash. The helicopter was carrying a pilot, flight nurse, and paramedic, all of whom sustained severe injuries. Emergency personnel and bystanders assisted in the rescue, with reports indicating that one crew member was pinned under the wreckage before being freed and transported to a nearby hospital. “There were no patients or other vehicles involved in the crash,” REACH Air Medical Services said in a brief statement. “Our primary focus is on the well-being of our crew and their families.” The aircraft did not catch fire after impact, but debris was scattered across multiple lanes, forcing the closure of all eastbound lanes on Highway 50 for several hours. Westbound lanes also experienced significant slowdowns as emergency crews worked through the night to secure the site. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the crash. The helicopter appeared to lose altitude rapidly before hitting the roadway, but officials have not confirmed any mechanical failure. Highway 50 eastbound lanes were expected to reopen by early Tuesday afternoon after debris removal and structural assessments of the affected area.

Helicopter Crash

REACH Air Medical Chopper Crashes On Highway 50 in Sacramento Injuring Three Crew

Aviation Today News Desk / October 7, 2025

California, United States: A medical helicopter operated by REACH Air Medical Services crashed onto the eastbound lanes of Highway 50

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