A scenic flight meant to mark a celebration ended in tragedy in the Arizona mountains, leaving four family members dead.
A groom-to-be and his three nieces were killed in a helicopter crash near Superior, Arizona, on the day he was set to marry.
Federal agencies have launched an investigation into the cause of the fatal midair tragedy, which occurred in a remote canyon deep within the mountains.
Bodies Recovered Hours After Helicopter Goes Missing
The helicopter crash occurred around 11 a.m. on January 2, 2026, near Telegraph Canyon, just south of Superior. Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) said four people had died in the accident, which happened shortly before a planned wedding ceremony.
The victims were identified as 59-year-old pilot David McCarty and his three nieces: Katelyn Heideman, 22; and sisters Rachel and Faith, both 21.
Earlier that morning, the privately operated helicopter had taken off from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, where McCarty also owned a home.
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.
Linstrom had publicly announced their engagement in a Facebook post in September 2025. Hours before the sheriff’s office confirmed the crash, she updated her cover photo to one showing McCarty fishing beside his dog, an apparent tribute to her fiancé.
Rescue teams from the U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR), along with the PCSO’s Search and Rescue, Superior Fire, and Queen Valley Fire, hiked into the rugged terrain with investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Due to the remote location, crews were unable to reach the wreckage until 5 p.m., when all four deaths were confirmed.
Midair Collision With Slackline Believed to Have Caused Crash
According to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the helicopter involved was an MD 369FF.
Preliminary findings suggest one of its rotor blades may have separated after striking a recreational slackline, causing the aircraft to overturn and plunge into the canyon below. The slackline, more than one kilometer in length, had been suspended across the mountain range.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office vehicles stationed near Telegraph Canyon during the investigation into the deadly helicopter crash outside Superior | Source: YouTube/Fox10Phoenix
The International Slackline Association said the line was marked with aviation indicators and that the FAA had been informed in advance through a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), which advised pilots to avoid the area. No slackliners were present at the time.
NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said the helicopter “impacted wires and terrain under unknown circumstances” and that investigators are working to determine how the slackline came to be positioned across the flight path and whether it was visible to pilots.
Tributes Pour in as Community Mourns Devastating Loss
The incident has left loved ones devastated. Elizabeth Gallup, a relative of the victims, confirmed the identities in a Facebook post, calling all the losses “unimaginable.” She thanked the public for their support as her family grieved.e
In a separate tribute, longtime friend Deatley Britt expressed deep sorrow over McCarty’s death, sharing that he was overcome with emotion while trying to continue with his day.
He said McCarty would have encouraged him to keep going and keep working. Britt reflected on their last conversation and described McCarty as a legend, a good man, and a loyal friend. He ended by offering heartfelt condolences to McCarty’s family.
That crash followed another deadly aviation incident last year in North Carolina, where a private jet went down shortly after takeoff.
It happened near Statesville on Thursday, December 18, 2025, killing all seven people on board, including a former race car driver and multiple members of his family.
Greg Biffle during a heat race at a Camping World Superstar Racing Experience event in Pevely, Missouri on July 9, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Victims Identified as Investigators Examine Flight Path and Weather
Among the seven victims were four members of one family: retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children, Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5. The other victims were Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol released the names on Friday, December 19.
The jet, a Cessna C550, took off from Statesville Regional Airport, located about 45 miles north of Charlotte. Weather conditions at the time included drizzle and low cloud cover. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff while attempting to return to the runway.
The aircraft was registered to a company operated by Biffle, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. He was also rated to fly helicopters, as well as single- and multi-engine planes. It was not immediately clear if he was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Video Shows Jet’s Final Seconds Before Explosion
Footage shows the private jet crashing into a field and erupting in a massive fireball just moments after takeoff. Captured by a nearby security camera and published by KSLA News 12, the video documents the aircraft’s final seconds before impact.
In the clip, the jet hits the ground and explodes, sending flames surging across the grass and thick black smoke rising into the sky. The fire spreads rapidly, with flames yards from nearby vehicles and buildings.
The camera, positioned in a parking lot close to the crash site, captures the full scale of the explosion, from impact to the rising plume of smoke.
The footage spread quickly online, and the contents match several eyewitness reports describing a low-flying aircraft, a violent impact, and a fast-moving fire.
Witnesses Describe the Crash
Residents near Statesville Regional Airport were left reeling as the jet plunged from the sky, trailing smoke and flames, before smashing into the ground with terrifying force.
At Lakewood Golf Club, which borders the airport, golfers watched in horror as the aircraft roared overhead and debris rained down across the course. “We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,'” said Joshua Green. “It was scary.”
Nearby on Airport Road, James Jones heard sirens and stepped outside to a chaotic scene. Thick black smoke was rising fast. “At first it was just a flame, then black smoke,” he noted. “I thought it was a house because there are residences on that side, too.”
Wreckage of the plane visible on the runway in Statesville, North Carolina | Source: YouTube/myfox8
Across from the airport, Alex Etman described the crash as deeply unsettling, especially given how normal the skies had always felt. “We are pretty close,” he recalled.
Etman also added that the crash felt “spooky” close to home. He noted that his neighborhood typically sees frequent plane traffic, especially after NASCAR races when the teams fly back. Until now, everything had always felt routine and uneventful, which made the sudden tragedy all the more unsettling.
Emergency crews responding at the scene of the deadly crash in Statesville, North Carolina | Source: YouTube/myfox8
Meanwhile, Michael Wingo had been standing on his porch with his dog, completely unaware that tragedy was about to unfold just across the field. “I looked over and saw it. When it exploded, I could feel the heat from here,” he shared.
The blast prompted him to call 911. He later said the possibility that the plane could have struck his house, had it approached from a different angle, left him deeply shaken.
Aviation Expert Suggests Engine Trouble Could Be a Factor
Aviation expert Greg Feith, a former senior air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told NBC that early flight data points to engine trouble. He explained that while pilots can land with one engine, a severe failure may lead to total loss of control.
“In the flight path, it looks like they’re trying to fly a normalized pattern to get back to the runway that they took off on rather than taking a 200-degree turn and land opposite direction,” Feith said. “Land slightly downwind if you need to, but get the airplane on the ground under control and that’s the key.”
Feith added that investigators will examine the flight’s timeline, crew response, and the aircraft’s maintenance history to determine what went wrong.
Tributes From the Racing World and Beyond Remember Greg Biffle and Family
As investigators searched for answers, heartbreak rippled across the racing community and beyond. Tributes poured in for Greg’s family from those who knew the family both professionally and personally.
Garrett Mitchell, a close friend of the Biffles, revealed on Facebook that the family had been on their way to visit him when the tragedy occurred. He called the loss devastating.
Over X, North Carolina Congressman Tim Moore praised Biffle not only for his prowess on the track but for his efforts off it, highlighting his support for local recovery after Hurricane Helene.
On the same platform, fellow NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer described Biffle as a skilled racer, a generous individual, and a devoted family man.
In an official statement, NASCAR honored Biffle as a champion across multiple racing series, a respected figure in the sport, and a man who had given back through service and disaster relief. The organization extended its condolences to all families affected.
