Investigators have released their preliminary report on a helicopter crash near Superior.
The helicopter crashed after it struck a recreational slackline suspended in Telegraph Canyon on Jan. 2, killing all four passengers onboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board say they found slackline material embedded in the helicopter’s vertical stabilizer, and damage to the paint and rotors consistent with impacting the slackline.
Witnesses working to raise the slackline said the helicopter was flying around eye level. When the impact occurred, the helicopter's nose pitched up, yawed to the right and its tail separated before it hit the ground about 150 to 350 feet below the line.
Slacklining is a sport that involves balancing across a tensioned line similar to tightrope walking. Slacklines have significantly less tension, making them bouncy. Highlining is a variation of slacklining where the line spans great distances, such as between buildings or across canyons.
The slackline near Superior was nearly three-quarters of a mile long and 600 feet off the ground at its highest point.
The NTSB said the slackline was marked with windsocks and LED lights to help make the line visible to pilots.
The line had been temporarily removed due to stormy weather conditions and wind in the days leading up to the crash
On the day of the crash, the weather had improved, allowing the line to be raised in the canyon. The line was halfway drawn between the northern and southern anchor points when the collision occurred.
A NOTAM, or Notice to Airmen, was active in the area, warning pilots of the presence of a “tight rope” 3 miles south of Superior Municipal Airport. The NOTAM was active from Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 6.
The NTSB said the helicopter was equipped with a wire strike prevention system, but cutting surfaces were not disturbed.
Witnesses said a second helicopter flew within 10 feet beneath the line an hour after the crash.
The lead investigator from the NTSB declined to comment further on the ongoing investigation.
