Federal investigators are digging into what led to the Monday crash of a single-engine plane in Sheridan County, Wyoming, that killed a 13-year-old Idaho rodeo pageant queen and injured her parents and brother.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has joined Sheridan County investigators in trying to determine what caused the Piper PA-28-180 to crash near Dayton.
A Boise, Idaho, family of four was flying in the plane.
The crash killed 13-year-old Amelia Palmer and injured her brother Aeron, 11, their mother Cindy, 53, and their father Earl, 54, who was the pilot.
Aeron has been released from a Billings, Montana, hospital while his parents remained at the facility as of Thursday, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Earl Palmer sustained injuries that will require “major reconstructive surgeries,” according to a GoFundMe campaign set up for the family to help with medical and funeral expenses.
Amelia Palmer died at the scene, and the Sheridan County Coroner has listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma.
Amelia was named the 2024-2025 Treasure Valley Rodeo Mini Queen and second runner-up to 2026 Miss Junior Rodeo Idaho, according to the Miss Rodeo Idaho organization.
Miss Pure Sunshine
“Amelia, you were pure sunshine and brought joy to everyone you met,” the organization said in a statement about the crash. “Our rodeo family won't be the same without you, and our hearts are truly broken today. Please join us in lifting her family up in prayer.”
The GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $47,000 for the Palmers as of Friday.
Andrea Eisenbarth, the campaign’s founder, wrote that the remaining family members face significant medical and financial challenges.
“As with any injury there are good days and bad,” Eisenbarth wrote. “We expect Cindy and Earl to have both, but my wish is that we turn the corner soon and have more good than bad days.”
Both parents remain in critical condition while Aeron has been “healing well” and is under the care of extended family members.
“Earl remains in ICU and the costs associated with recovery are likely to be staggering,” Eisenbarth wrote.
Investigation
The plane, a 1965 Piper Cherokee 828, was headed back to Boise, Idaho, and had taken off from Sheridan County Airport when it crashed, according to the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office. The plane went down at 4:57 p.m.
According to a family member who posted a message on Facebook, Aeron made the emergency call for help after the crash despite the radio having a broken antenna.
Sheridan County sheriff’s deputies, Sheridan Area Search and Rescue and Wyoming Regional EMS were among agencies that responded.
First Flight, an air medical service from Greybull, was called to locate the crash site from the air.
The first patient was airlifted by First Flight to an incident command post before being moved to Sheridan Memorial Hospital by emergency medical personnel. The Wyoming Army National Guard airlifted the other two survivors from the scene in separate flights.
It was at least the third air incident Earl Palmer has been involved in.
In July 2017, federal court records show, his flying privileges for the Department of Interior were revoked, and he was disqualified from flying for the agency again.
In 2012, while flying a helicopter for the Interior Department, he was involved in a crash with the “potential loss of life” that caused $120,000 in damage to the helicopter. Court records say he was advised that “any future evidence of excessive risk taking or poor decision making … may be grounds for administrative action, including permanent revocation of pilot privileges within the Department.”
In 2016, the records say, he was involved in an aircraft mishap involving a plane. An investigation led to the recommendation that he no longer be allowed to fly for the Interior Department.
Palmer resigned and later unsuccessfully applied for reinstatement. He has sued the Interior Department and the case is ongoing.
Palmer’s LinkedIn page shows that he had been a pilot for the federal agency since 2009.
A family member or representative for the Palmers could not be reached.
Justin George can be reached at justin@cowboystatedaily.com.
