Local News
Pilot with his three nieces killed in helicopter crash in Superior
UPDATE: Four people were killed after a privately owned helicopter crashed in a remote mountainous area east of the Valley late Friday morning, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Authorities identified the pilot as 59-year-old David McCarty of Queen Creek.
The three passengers were his family members: Rachel McCarty, 22; Faith McCarty, 21; and Katelyn Heideman, 21.
All four were pronounced deceased at the scene.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A man and his three nieces were among those killed in a tragic helicopter crash that occurred in a remote mountainous area east of the Valley late Friday morning.
According to preliminary information, the helicopter struck a slackline, which caused a rotor blade to separate from the aircraft.
Witness accounts indicate the helicopter then inverted before crashing into the mountainside.
Authorities have not yet confirmed these details, as the investigation remains ongoing.
First responders were dispatched to the scene shortly after the crash was reported.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident occurred around 11 a.m. in the mountains near Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior.
Due to the rugged and difficult terrain, emergency crews have faced significant challenges accessing the crash site, delaying the confirmation of injuries and fatalities during the initial response.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft involved was an MD 369FF helicopter, commonly known as a Hughes 500, and stated that four people were on board at the time of the crash.
Pinal County deputies further confirmed that the privately owned helicopter had departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek earlier that morning.
Once deputies reached the area, they located the wreckage; however, the remote location has complicated recovery and investigative efforts. Out of an abundance of caution, the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the area to ensure airspace safety during rescue and investigation operations.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are jointly investigating the crash.
The NTSB will lead the investigation and is expected to provide official findings and updates as more information becomes available.
This incident has deeply impacted the community, and authorities have expressed their condolences to the families affected as recovery efforts continue.
Local News
Cessna Aircraft Crashes Into Field During Takeoff Attempt in Batavia, Ohio; Instructor and Student Reportedly Uninjured
BATAVIA, Ohio (Clermont County) — A Cessna aircraft went down into a field after an unsuccessful takeoff attempt near Sporty’s Pilot Shop in Batavia, Ohio, according to preliminary incident information.
Both occupants, a flight instructor and a student pilot, reportedly escaped the incident without injuries.
The aircraft crash was reported near 2001 Sporty’s Drive in Batavia, in Clermont County. Initial information indicates that the Cessna failed to take off and went down into a nearby field.
Two people were aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident. They were identified in the initial report as a flight instructor and a student pilot.
Both occupants reportedly exited the aircraft and were reported to be uninjured. According to the preliminary information, they were being transported back to Sporty’s Pilot Shop following the incident.
No injuries were reported in the information provided, although further official confirmation may be needed.
The incident occurred in the area of Sporty’s Drive in Batavia, a community in Clermont County, Ohio. The aircraft reportedly entered a field after failing to become airborne during its takeoff attempt.
Details about the aircraft’s condition, the precise circumstances of the failed takeoff and whether emergency crews or aviation investigators responded were not immediately available in the initial report.
The cause of the incident has not been established, and no additional information about possible damage to the aircraft was provided.
This is a developing story. Further details may become available as authorities confirm the circumstances surrounding the incident.