Accident Overview
On September 1, 2025, at approximately 1612 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, registration N8307W, was substantially damaged when it crashed near Wolf, Wyoming. The aircraft was operating as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and one passenger suffered serious injuries; another passenger was fatally injured, and a fourth occupant received minor injuries. The flight had departed from Sheridan County Airport (SHR) in Sheridan, Wyoming at 1602, en route to Boise Airport (BOI) in Boise, Idaho. According to family members, the pilot was transporting his family home to Boise and planned to return to Sheridan that afternoon.
Emergency Response and Location
At 1612, a brief emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal from the accident airplane was received but ceased shortly afterward. Soon after, a passenger on board contacted local law enforcement to report the accident. A search and rescue helicopter was dispatched and later located the wreckage approximately 16 miles west of Sheridan County Airport in mountainous, tree-covered terrain.
Investigation and Wreckage Examination
On September 3, an investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Alaska Regional Office arrived at the accident site. The NTSB investigator documented the wreckage before recovery operations commenced. An initial examination indicated that all aircraft components were present at the site. The engine data monitor and a portable GPS unit were recovered for data download. Due to the serious injuries sustained by the pilot and a passenger, an NTSB interview has been deferred.
Aircraft and Flight Information
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-180, registration N8307W. The flight was conducted under Part 91 personal operations. No additional details regarding the aircraft's maintenance history or pilot qualifications have been released.