Witnesses report a second helicopter narrowly missed a slackline in the Arizona desert that led to a fatal helicopter crash only an hour before, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The report, released late last month, indicated the slackline was placed at an elevation of 600 feet above the ground on December 26, 2025, in Superior, Arizona.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), filed by a friend of the slackliners on December 21, 2025, indicated the presence of a “tight rope” about 3 nautical miles south of Superior Municipal Airport (E81), Superior, Arizona. The NOTAM was active between December 26, 2025, and January 6, 2026, according to the NTSB.

A witness reported that sometime around December 30th, the first helicopter impacted the lines and appeared to slow or even reverse direction before it crashed.

The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured.

About an hour after the deadly crash, first responders reported a second helicopter flying a similar flight path flew about 10 feet under the signalization line, which had remained suspended after the accident, along with portions of the slackline webbing.

Evidence of material consistent in appearance with the slackline webbing was embedded in parts of the downed helicopter.

The investigation remains ongoing.