One Killed And Three Injured In Plane Crash In Bighorn Mountains

On Monday, September 1, 2025 at approximately 4:57 PM the Sheridan Law Enforcement Center received initial reports of a possible lost or injured subject(s) in the area of Big Mountains within the Bighorn National Forest.

Additional reports came in that an aircraft had possibly crashed in the area of Big Mountain within the Bighorn National Forest.

Sheridan County Sheriff’s Deputies, Sheridan Area Search and Rescue (SASAR), and Wyoming Regional EMS (WREMS) responded to the area.

First Flight from Greybull, WY was requested to fly over the area of the possible crash site.

First Flight was able to fly over the area of the potential crash site and confirmed there was evidence of a plane crash in the area west of the Big Mountains.

An Incident Command Post was set up at the Steamboat Point parking lot.

From the Incident Command Post, First Flight flew in SASAR, WREMS crews, along with their medical team, close to the crash site on the north end of the Walker Prairie Trail.

The rescue and medical teams arrived at the crash site and found a single engine aircraft with three patients and a 13-year-old female, the latter of which was confirmed deceased on scene.

The three patients, an 11-year-old male, a 54-year-old male and a 53-year-old female, all of the same family, were reported to have serious injuries.

Medical and rescue teams worked to stabilize the three patients.

The Wyoming Air National Guard was requested to respond with an additional helicopter for hoist operations.

The first patient was airlifted by First Flight from the scene to the Incident Command Post and transported to Sheridan Memorial Hospital by WREMS.

The Wyoming Air National Guard was able to airlift the other two patients from the scene with two separate flights.

The first flight encompassed airlifting one of the patients to the Sheridan County Airport where the patient was then transferred to an awaiting St. Vincent Help Flight Helicopter and flown to a Billings, Montana Hospital.

The second flight encompassed the Wyoming Air National Guard airlift the 3rd patient directly to a Billings, Montana Hospital.

The First Flight crew flew several times to fly SASAR and WREMS crews back out, along with the deceased female, to the Incident Command Post.

The deceased female was identified by the Sheridan County Coroner as Amelia Palmer.

This is still an active investigation and scene.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is enroute and Sheridan Area Search and Rescue, Sheridan County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Bighorn National Forest Service personnel will remain on scene until the FAA investigation is completed.

The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office asks the public to stay out of the area.

“The coordinated effort between all of the rescuers, EMS, medical teams, and aircraft personnel was exceptional,” Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez said. “This was, and still is, a very fluid scene. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ and their family.”