A private helicopter crash in the rugged mountains south of Superior has left four people dead, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
The MD 369FF helicopter went down near Telegraph Canyon around 11 a.m. Friday. Authorities said the victims included a 59-year-old Queen Creek man, who was piloting the aircraft, and three young female family members, ages 22, 21, and 21.
Search and rescue teams, along with firefighters from Superior and Queen Valley, trekked into the remote area on foot and confirmed the fatalities by Friday evening. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also responded to assist with the investigation.
An eyewitness who called 911 reported seeing the helicopter clip a section of a slackline — a type of tightrope used for sport — before plummeting into the canyon below. Preliminary findings suggest the line had been stretched for roughly one kilometer across the mountain range.
The helicopter had departed earlier that morning from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash to determine the exact cause.
Officials have not released further details as the investigation continues into what led to the deadly accident.
