🕊️ In Loving Memory of David McCarty, Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman 🕊️

🕊️ In Loving Memory of David McCarty, Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman 🕊️

Four Lives Taken, Forever in Our Hearts

With profound sorrow and hearts weighed down by grief, the Arizona and Oregon communities mourn the tragic loss of four members of the McCarty family in a devastating helicopter crash on January 2, 2026, near Superior, Arizona. The accident has left loved ones, friends, and an entire community grappling with heartbreak, as lives full of promise and love were suddenly taken far too soon.

According to eyewitnesses and local authorities, the helicopter likely collided with a slackline strung across a remote canyon, approximately 600 feet in the air. The tragic crash claimed the life of 59-year-old pilot David McCarty and his three nieces: Rachel McCarty, 23, Faith McCarty, 21, and Katelyn Heideman, 21. The slackline reportedly spanned more than half a mile, though no one was balancing on it at the time of the crash. Despite aviation markers and warnings submitted through the FAA Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system, the accident underscores the dangers posed by recreational extreme sports with limited oversight.

David McCarty was a dedicated pilot, family man, and a trusted figure to those who knew him. His nieces—Rachel, Faith, and Katelyn—were young women full of life, dreams, and the joy of youth. Each of them carried a spark that touched friends and family alike, leaving an imprint that cannot be erased. The suddenness of this loss has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of those who loved them.

To the McCarty family and the Heideman family, the pain of this tragedy is incomprehensible. Their loved ones were taken in a moment, leaving behind cherished memories, laughter, and love that will now be carried in hearts instead of shared in daily life. The community joins together in prayer, support, and remembrance, honoring the lives of four individuals who meant so much to so many.

Though this tragedy arose from circumstances that may never be fully understood, it does not diminish the lives lost—the love they shared, the dreams they held, and the connections that will endure. David, Rachel, Faith, and Katelyn will be remembered not for the accident that took them, but for the light, warmth, and joy they brought to the world.

Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts—David McCarty, Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman will forever be remembered, forever loved, and forever missed. 🕯️💙