The victims have not been publicly identified. Investigators said the pilot was a 59-year-old man from Queen Creek, while the three passengers were female relatives in their early twenties. Notifications to next of kin were still in progress late Friday.
Slacklining, an activity comparable to tightrope walking, involves balancing on a flat webbing anchored between two fixed points. Slackline U.S., a national advocacy group, states that the sport is often practiced in parks but has expanded to “high-lining” across gorges and cliffs. Authorities did not immediately disclose who installed the line involved in Friday’s crash or whether any permits had been issued for its placement.
Superior, the closest community to the crash site, is a former mining town surrounded by the Superstition and Pinal mountain ranges. The area attracts hikers and climbers and has limited cell coverage, complicating emergency communications. Rescue crews utilized off-road vehicles and hoist-equipped helicopters to reach the canyon floor, where they confirmed that none of the occupants survived the impact.
The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction within hours of the incident to protect ongoing recovery and investigative operations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with FAA personnel providing technical assistance. An NTSB “go team” arrived in Arizona late Friday to examine the airframe, collect radar data, and interview witnesses.
NTSB spokespersons said investigators will focus on several factors, including possible obstruction by the slackline, weather conditions, pilot qualifications, and aircraft maintenance records. A preliminary report is expected within two to three weeks, although a final determination of probable cause could take up to a year.
Pegasus Airpark, the helicopter’s departure point, is a privately owned facility that serves general aviation traffic southeast of Phoenix. Flight plans filed for the MD 369FF indicated no intermediate stops before its route over the Pinal Mountains. There was no distress call recorded by air-traffic control, officials confirmed.
Imagem: Internet
The MD 369FF, commonly known as the MD 500F, is a light, single-engine helicopter widely used for utility, law-enforcement and private missions. Aviation records list the downed aircraft as registered to a limited-liability company based in Arizona. Maintenance logs, fuel samples and pilot logs have been secured for inspection, investigators said.
Friday’s fatal crash occurred less than a month after a separate midair collision involving two law-enforcement helicopters in California, underscoring what safety analysts describe as a challenging period for low-level rotorcraft operations. Industry observers note that obstacles such as power lines, cables and, in rare cases, slacklines, pose significant hazards to helicopters flying in canyons or close to terrain.
Authorities urged recreation enthusiasts to coordinate with land managers and aviation officials before installing aerial lines across popular flight corridors. No additional injuries were reported on the ground, and no structures were damaged in the incident.
As recovery teams prepared to remove the wreckage, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office asked visitors to avoid the Telegraph Canyon area until further notice. Residents in Superior reported an increased presence of emergency vehicles and low-flying aircraft throughout the afternoon as operations continued.
The NTSB’s final report will include any safety recommendations stemming from the crash, including potential changes to slackline regulations on public lands or updated guidance for pilots operating in recreational areas.
Crédito da imagem: Pinal County Sheriff’s Office
