A devastating small plane crash in Wyoming’s rugged Bighorn Mountains claimed the life of a 13-year-old girl and left three relatives seriously injured, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The wreckage was discovered late Monday afternoon near Big Mountain, an 8,200-foot peak approximately 24 kilometers west of Sheridan, after a medical service helicopter spotted the downed aircraft during a search mission.

The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office reported that the crash occurred in a remote area of Bighorn National Forest. Following the discovery, rescue teams established a command post at a parking lot off US Highway 14 to coordinate efforts. Rescuers airlifted to the site found the young girl deceased and three others—a 53-year-old woman, a 54-year-old man, and an 11-year-old boy—suffering from severe injuries.

A medical helicopter and a Wyoming Army National Guard chopper swiftly transported two of the survivors to a hospital in Billings, Montana, while an ambulance rushed the third to a facility in Sheridan. The victims’ identities and details about their flight, including the plane’s origin and destination, remain undisclosed as the investigation continues.

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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigators are en route to the crash site to determine the cause of the tragedy. Local authorities have expressed condolences and are working to support the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in the challenging mountainous terrain.

The crash has shaken the Sheridan community, with residents awaiting further updates as the investigation unfolds.

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