Plane Crash Kills Teen Pageant Queen Described as ‘Pure Sunshine,’ Leaves 3 Other Family Members Injured

A teen from Boise, Idaho, died, and three members of her family were hurt in a plane crash on Labor Day.

The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) in Wyoming said on Facebook that law enforcement responded to reports of a plane crash and “lost or injured subject(s)” in Bighorn National Forest on Monday, Sept. 1.

The sheriff’s office said deputies worked with the Sheridan Area Search and Rescue (SASAR) and Wyoming Regional EMS (WREMS) to find the plane crash “west of Big Mountain.”

“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, who was confirmed deceased on scene,” the statement said. Her body was later “transferred to the Sheridan County Coroner.”

The teenager was identified as 13-year-old Amelia Palmer on Instagram by Miss Rodeo Idaho Inc.. The organization said she was crowned the 2024/2025 Treasure Valley Rodeo Mini Queen and was “second runner-up to 2026 Miss Junior Rodeo Idaho.”

“Amelia, you were pure sunshine and brought joy to everyone you met. 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 organization wrote.

Her Treasure Valley Rodeo bio said, “When she’s not horseback riding, barrel racing, or participating in 4-H with Boots & Bullets, you can find her at her Great Uncle Mark Blackburn’s cattle ranch in Jamison, Oregon, or attending Working Ranch Horse 4-H clinics. Amelia also enjoys playing the cello, paddleboarding, and boating at the lake. She loves spending time outdoors, and on a relaxing day, you might find her listening to a good book and drawing.”

Amelia was one of five siblings, with a younger brother and three older brothers.

The sheriff’s office said the crash survivors were “an 11-year-old male, a 54-year-old male, and a 53-year-old female, all from the same family.” They were reported to have “serious injuries.”

The survivors were identified by the Idaho Statesman as Earl Palmer, his wife Cindy Palmer, and their son Aeron Palmer—Amelia’s father, mother, and younger brother. The sheriff’s office had not confirmed this as of Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Medical and rescue teams “worked to stabilize” the three patients before airlifting them to nearby hospitals.

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

The SCSO asked people to stay away from the area while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigated the crash. The Idaho Statesman reported that the plane was registered to Austin Travis Peden in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Kathi Roe, a friend of the Palmers, told the Idaho Statesman that the family owns a farm.

“No words can express the huge loss our community has faced today, but more than that, a family that has done so much for others and is the backbone of so many things,” Roe wrote on Facebook.

Roe added, “The Palmers have all been such an integral part of my life since moving to Boise,” and remembered Amelia as “the sassy little neighbor girl who knocked on my door 8 years ago,” who grew into a “beautiful, full-of-life teen.”

“It was never boring with her around; she always made you smile, or laugh most of the time. She will have a piece of my heart forever, and the utter devastation for the family I can’t imagine,” Roe said.

She asked for prayers for Cindy and Earl to fully recover from their injuries, noting that they have four boys to care for, and described their son Aeron as “the amazing little hero that got his parents rescued and kept them safe.”

A GoFundMe page confirmed by PEOPLE reported that “Cindy and Earl are both in critical condition and Aeron suffered minor injuries.”

“Earl will need major reconstructive surgeries, and Cindy is also in critical condition (extent of her injuries unknown at this time),” the fundraiser said. The money raised would help with “medical bills, household bills, travel costs, and funeral costs.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office for more information and to confirm the victims’ identities.