Four Oregonians died Jan. 2 when a helicopter crashed in a remote canyon in Arizona.
Pinal County Sheriff's Office reported that the plane appeared to hit a tension line running through the canyon shortly before 11 a.m. The helicopter crashed in Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior and about 65 miles east of Phoenix.
Search and rescue teams According to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, they arrived at the crash site later that evening and confirmed the deaths of four people.
Family members identified the four passengers as David McCarthy, 59, and his nieces Rachel McCarthy, 23, Faith McCarthy, 21, and Caitlin Heideman, 22. David McCarthy was scheduled to get married later that day, People magazine reported.
Public records show that David McCarthy was the owner of Columbia Basin Helicopters, a professional helicopter maintenance company based in La Grande.
The helicopter that crashed was MD 369FF. It is unclear whether McCarthy's company or her plane were involved in the crash.
The crash was investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said a witness reported seeing the helicopter hit a line and then fall to the bottom of the canyon. According to the sheriff's office, a walking sling stretching more than a kilometer was stretched across the mountain ridge.
The FAA was made aware of the slackline's aviation markings and issued a notice to air missions (NOTAM) before the crash, the International Slackline Association said. statement.
Federal Aviation Records show that the pilots were issued a notice to air mission (NOTAM) warning them of a “tight line” obstacle in the area at the time of the crash.
The notice described a marked and illuminated rope within a one nautical mile radius of the incident at approximately 600 feet above ground level.
A slackline is a narrow nylon or polyester strip attached between two points, allowing people to balance or walk on it. Slackline USAa non-profit organization promoting the sport.
Highlining is the practice of balancing on a slackline at high altitudes, including through canyons and between rocks. The International Slacklining Association said there were no highliners on the line at the time of the crash.
Arizona reporters Ray Covarrubias Jr. and Ren Smetana contributed to this report.
Isabelle Funk covers breaking news and public safety issues for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be contacted at: [email protected] or on X at @isabeldfunk
This article originally appeared in the Salem Statesman Journal: Four Oregonians Killed in Helicopter Crash in Arizona
