An Idaho rodeo pageant queen, 13-year-old Amelia Palmer, tragically lost her life when a small plane crashed in Wyoming on Labor Day, leaving her family critically injured, officials reported.
Amelia was discovered deceased after the Piper PA-28, which seats four, went down in the Bighorn National Forest shortly after taking off on Monday afternoon.
Her parents, 54-year-old Earl Palmer and 53-year-old Cindy Palmer, along with her 11-year-old brother, Aeron, were all urgently airlifted to a nearby hospital, where their conditions were described as serious.
A GoFundMe page established for the family noted that Amelia’s father is expected to require substantial reconstructive surgery.
The full extent of her mother and brother’s injuries is not yet clear.
It appears the Palmers have three other sons who were not on the flight.
In the meantime, Amelia had recently been crowned the Treasure Valley Rodeo Mini Queen, and she was also the second runner-up in the 2026 Miss Junior Rodeo Idaho organization, as shared in a tribute post.
The organization expressed their condolences, saying, “Amelia, you were pure sunlight and brought joy to everyone we met. Our rodeo family is not the same without you. Our hearts are really broken today.”
Her profile on the local rodeo’s website highlighted her love for the outdoors and her horse, Darry. She enjoyed barrel racing and participating in 4-H activities. On her downtime, she’d often be found at the Mark Blackburn cow farm in Jamison, Oregon.
Amelia also liked playing the cello and paddleboarding, and on a laid-back day, she might be listening to audiobooks or drawing.
The National Traffic Safety Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration are currently investigating the crash, as reported by the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez praised the collaboration among rescue teams, stating, “The coordinated efforts between all rescuers, EMS, medical teams, and aircraft personnel have been exceptional. This was a very fluid scene. Our thoughts and prayers lie with the victims and their families.”
