A family celebration turned to unimaginable tragedy when a groom-to-be and his three nieces were killed in a helicopter crash just hours before his wedding ceremony was due to begin.
A Fatal Pre-Wedding Flight
David McCarty, 59, an experienced pilot and owner of Columbia Basin Helicopters, decided to take three of his nieces for a ride in a private aircraft on the morning of his wedding day. The flight took off from an airport in Queen Creek, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, on 2 January.
On board with him were his nieces: Rachel McCarty, 22, Faith McCarty, 21, and Katelyn Heideman, also 21. The group was enjoying the flight ahead of McCarty's planned marriage to his fiancée, Joelleen Linstrom.
The Crash in Telegraph Canyon
Tragedy struck at approximately 11am local time in the remote and rugged terrain of Telegraph Canyon, about 64 miles (103 kilometres) east of Phoenix. According to an eyewitness account, the helicopter collided with a slackline before plummeting from the sky.
The remote location of the crash site severely hampered rescue efforts. It took emergency responders several hours to reach the scene on foot, with crews not arriving until around 5pm. The deaths of all four people on board were confirmed later that evening.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary flight restriction over the area to allow for recovery and investigative operations to proceed.
A Family and Community in Mourning
The devastating loss has shattered the McCarty and Heideman families. Mary Jane Heideman, mother of Katelyn and aunt to Rachel and Faith, expressed the family's profound grief, stating the young women "had such bright futures" and that the loss was "hard to fathom."
Another niece, Elizabeth Gallup, shared a heartbreaking message online, confirming the "unimaginable losses" of her uncle and cousins. "They went out for a helicopter ride in Arizona. The helicopter crashed and they never got the chance to come home," she wrote, asking for continued prayers as the family processes the heartbreak.
McCarty, who founded his helicopter company in 1997, was described by friends and family as a dedicated aviation professional and a man deeply devoted to his loved ones. The local sheriff's office offered condolences, saying, "Our prayers are with the victims and their families."
The investigation into the precise cause of the helicopter crash is ongoing.
