Overview
- An MD 369FF went down around 11 a.m. near Telegraph Canyon south of Superior after departing Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek.
- Authorities identified the victims as a 59-year-old pilot from Queen Creek and three female family members ages 21, 21 and 22, with names not yet released.
- Preliminary evidence from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, including an eyewitness 911 call, indicates the helicopter struck a slackline before falling into the canyon.
- Rugged, remote terrain delayed access to the wreckage until the evening, when teams reached the site on foot and confirmed four fatalities.
- The FAA imposed a temporary flight restriction and the NTSB is leading the investigation, with officials not yet stating whether the slackline was authorized or marked.