The crash resulted in the death of pilot David McCarty and his nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty and Katelyn Heideman

McCarty died along with Rachel McCarty, 22, and Katelyn Heideman, 21,

David McCarty; Rachel McCarty; Katelyn Heideman (photo of Faith McCarty unavailable at this time).Credit : Facebook; Instagram

The helicopter that crashed in Arizona, killing a man and three nieces — on his wedding day — has been recovered by federal investigators.

A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board told The Arizona Republic that the helicopter was recovered on Sunday, Jan. 4, two days after the aircraft crashed near Telegraph Canyon in Superior, resulting in the deaths of pilot David McCarty and his nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman.

The NTSB confirmed to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Jan. 6, that the aircraft “has been transported to a secure facility for further examination” and investigators are looking at three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment.

Among the information and records authorities will be probing include recordings of any air traffic control communications, radar data and witness statements. Their investigation is ongoing.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office previously said in a statement that the helicopter departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek. Emergency services responded to reports of a crash around 11 a.m. local time.

The sheriff’s office wrote in an update that emergency services, along with FAA investigators, reached the wreckage “on foot.”

Authorities confirmed the female victims’ ages were 22, 21 and 21. The young women were all cousins, and David was their uncle, according to a relative’s Facebook post, viewed by PEOPLE.

Around 11 a.m., PCSO received reports of a crashed helicopter in the mountains near Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior, Arizona.

Authorities parked at site where a helicopter crashed carrying four people on board in Superior, Arizona.Pinal County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

The sheriff’s office noted in their release that the helicopter may have struck a recreational slackline, leading to the tragedy.

“Preliminary evidence indicates a recreational slackline more than one kilometer long had been strung across the mountain range,” authorities said. “An eyewitness who called 911 reported seeing the helicopter strike a portion of the line before falling to the bottom of the canyon.”

A temporary flight restriction was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration at the time of the incident.

The NTSB said in a statement to PEOPLE that the agency is expected to release a preliminary report within about 30 days of the accident. A final report, which will detail the probable cause as well as any contributing factors, takes between 12 and 24 months to complete.

Along with the NTSB, the FAA is also investigating the crash.

McCarty and his fiancée, Joelleen Linstrom, announced their engagement on social media in September, according to posts viewed by PEOPLE. Following the crash, Linstrom uploaded a photo of what appears to be her late fiancé fishing, but shared no statement.

Family told Fox affiliate KSAZ that the experienced pilot was flying his nieces to see sights before his wedding ceremony.

Mary Jane Heideman, mother of Katelyn and aunt to Rachel and Faith, told The Arizona Republic that the girls “had such bright futures” and that the incident is “just hard to fathom.”

“They were all so loved,” the grieving mother said.