Incident report
Hughes 369FF crash near Superior, AZ, United States
fatal2026-01-024 fatalities
Summary
A MD Helicopters 369FF (N3502P) struck a recreational slackline strung approximately 600 feet in the air across Telegraph Canyon near Superior, Arizona. Pilot David McCarty, 59, and his three nieces Katelyn Heideman, Rachel McCarty, and Faith McCarty were killed. The helicopter had taken off from Queen Creek. The crash prompted bipartisan federal legislation, the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, which directs the FAA to review regulations on marking low-altitude obstructions including slacklines. Senator Mark Kelly introduced the bill in July 2026.
Incident details
Date
2026-01-02
Location
Superior, AZ, United States
Aircraft
Registration
N3502P
Operator
FB HELICOPTER LLC
Operator type
civil
Fatalities
4
Injuries
0
Probable cause
Weather
VMC
Source
NTSB β33.2939, -111.0962
Quick stats
Severityfatal
Fatalities4
Injuries0
SourceNTSB
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