This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N8307W
- Hitstory of Flight:
On September 1, 2025, at about 1657 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, N8307W, registered to a private individual out of Sheridan, WY, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain near Dayton, Wyoming. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The personal flight originated from Sheridan Airport (SHR/KSHR), Sheridan, Wyoming, and was destined to an unknown location.
According to flighttracking history, on August 30, 2025, the airplane departed Sheridan and flew to Boise Airport (BOI), Boise, Idaho, then flew another leg to Nampa Municipal Airport (MAN/KMAN), Nampa, Idaho, before returning to Boise later in the day. On August 31, 2025, the airplane departed Boise and arrived at KSHR following a 4-hour flight.
According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 1602 LT, the airplane departed 33 at KSHR and entered a climbing left turn to an altitude of 6,300 ft. The last ADS-B return was recorded at 16:10:50 about 13.70 miles from the departure end of runway 33, the airplane was climbing through 6,700 ft. 88 knots groundspeed, with an average rate of +600 feet per minute (fpm) towards mountainous terrain. (Figure 1)
Local media reported that the aircraft was subject of an ALNOT and located sometime later in an area west of Big Mountain. The last data point was recorded roughly 2.50 miles west of Big Mountain (Figure 2). While preliminary ADS-B data can be erroneous, the available data suggests there were no attempts to avoid the mountainside.
- Pilot Information:
The pilot, aged 54, held an airline transport pilot certificate (issued/updated 11/7/2022) with a rating for airplane multi-engine land, and commercial privileges in airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, rotorcraft/helicopter and instrument helicopter. He also held a flight instructor certificate and a ground instructor certificate. His first class FAA medical was issued on July 2025. The pilot held type ratings in the Casa CA-212, DHC-8, and Dornier DO-228.
The pilot was previously a pilot for the U.S. Department of Interior. In 2012, he was involved in an incident with the potential for loss of life while flying a helicopter for the DOI, which caused approximately $120,000.00 in damage to the helicopter.
On June 30, 2016, the pilot was giving instruction to an airline transport certificated airplane multi-engine (only) pilot in the left seat when they were involved in a hard landing at Ely Airport (ELY/KELY), Ely, Nevada. Check the "additional information" section for NTSB report for the accident.
As a result of the 2016 aircraft mishap, the Office of Aviation Services (“OAS”) convened a Pilot Review Board (“PRB”) to investigate his involvement, as he was the pilot-in-command at the time of the incident. A PRB is an administrative, fact-finding proceeding, convened to assist the OAS Director in examining information relevant to the continued qualification, disqualification or reinstatement of any DOI pilot. (Dkt. 20-8 at 5.) The PRB was convened in accordance with DOI aviation policy, and Operational Procedures Memorandum 24 (OPM 24). (Dkt. 20-10.)4 The PRB was comprised of two DOI pilots and one air safety investigator
Following deliberations, on July 17, 2017, the PRB issued a unanimous recommendation in a 481-page report that the pilot authorization to fly for the DOI be permanently revoked and that he be disqualified from future service as a DOI pilot.
(Source: U.S. Courts, District of Idaho, Case No. 1:23-cv-00466-CWD)
- Airplane Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number 28-2476, was manufactured in 1965. It was a 4-seat, low-wing, powered by a single Lycoming O&VO-360 SER engine.
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
none
- Airport Information:
Sheridan Airport is a public airport located about 2 miles southwest of Sheridan, Wyoming. The airport field elevation was 4021.1 ft. The airport features two asphalt runways, runway 15/33 (8301 x 100 ft) and runway 6/24 (5039 x 75).
- Weather:
(1) Brief:
The reported weather at KSHR, at 1653 (about 5 minutes before the accident) included: winds 060 at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, no clouds under 12,000 ft (CLR), a temperature of 31° C, a dew point of 4° C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 30.21 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 6578 ft.
(2) METARs:
METAR KSHR 012153Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 31/03 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP200 T03110028
METAR KSHR 012253Z AUTO 06009KT 10SM CLR 31/04 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP199 T03110039 <<
(3) Area Forecast Discussion:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Billings MT 240 PM MDT Mon Sep 1 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Dry and warm through Tuesday with hazy skies. - Late Tuesday cold front brings breezy winds and a few light showers east into Tuesday night, and cooler temps for Wednesday. - Increasing wildfire smoke Tuesday night into Wednesday. - Breezy to windy conditions Thursday. && .DISCUSSION... Through Wednesday Night... Satellite imagery shows strong/dry ridge over the northern Rockies and an upstream cut off low just off the WA coast, the latter of which is spreading some high clouds to the west half of MT. More importantly for us is a shortwave moving through northern Alberta that will eventually evolve into a deep upper trough over southern Ontario/Great Lakes region. This feature will bring us modest backdoor cooling behind a late Tuesday cold front. For our forecast area, conditions through Tuesday will be warm and dry with temps in the mid 80s to lower 90s, not hot enough to threaten daily records but still 5-10F above normal. Winds will pick up a bit late Tuesday (15-25 mph gusts) as that cold front drops into the high plains. Though we`ve had a stretch of "humid" days and fairly widespread precip in recent days, the brief warm stretch and frontal passage could promote somewhat better wildfire activity. There may be a low risk of high-based t-storms Tuesday afternoon, followed by a bit better chance of light showers over the eastern half of our forecast area Tuesday night as the cooler air backs in and combines with a hint of mid level frontogenesis in the NW flow. However, the chance of any significant rain is negligible for most locations with only 0.05" or less locally. Wednesday should be cooler behind Tuesday evenings cold front with a northeast wind prevailing. Highs will range from mid 80s west to near 70 along the Dakota borders. For those with wildfire smoke sensitivities...there are a large number of active wildfires across the NW Territories of northern Canada, with plenty of smoke. Tuesday evenings cold front could spread some near-surface smoke into eastern MT Tuesday night into Wednesday as winds shift to the NE-E. BT Thursday through Sunday... Ridge axis shifts over the Northern Rockies on Thursday. A surface cold front will sweep through the area Thursday. This will bring breezy to windy conditions, with wind gusts in the 20 to 40 mph range (highest gusts in the south and east). Below normal temperatures are forecast Thursday through Saturday, with highs in the 70s and low 80s. Friday will be the coolest thanks to the frontal passage on Thursday. An upper level disturbance is depicted by deterministic models moving under the ridge, Saturday into Sunday. There is uncertainty on whether or not the chance for precipitation will increase. Surface slow is shown to be south-southeasterly, but the mid-upper level wind flow will be west-southwesterly. The surface flow from the plains looks to be drier than the mid-upper level flow which has monsoonal moisture. Currently, the chance for precip is low for much of the area Saturday and Sunday. The western mountains and foothills are the exception, with a low to moderate chance for showers and weak thunderstorms. High temperatures will climb back into the mid 80sF beginning Sunday and continuing into the start of next week. Matos && .AVIATION... VFR conditions will prevail through the forecast period. Slant range visibility will be reduced at times due to regional wildfire smoke. BT
(4) Sun and Moon Data:
The sun’s position at the time of the accident was about 29° above the horizon on an azimuth of 127° SE.
- Additional Information:
- 2016 Accident NTSB report:
- NTSB Identification: GAA16CA362
- 14 CFR Public Use
- Accident occurred Thursday, June 30, 2016 in Ely, NV
- Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/31/2016
- Aircraft: CESSNA U206, registration: N9304R
- Injuries: 3 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The flight instructor reported that during a public-use flight in a single-engine airplane, he was providing instruction to an airline transport pilot who was only rated for multi-engine airplanes. The flight instructor further reported that the pilot receiving instruction was the pilot flying and was "fast" on final approach. During the landing flare, the airplane ballooned and bounced once. After the bounce, the flight instructor applied aft flight control pressure because he believed the airplane was going to touch down nose wheel first. The subsequent landing roll was completed without further incident.
After loading additional passengers, the flight instructor completed the return flight to their domicile without further incident. During a post-flight inspection damage was found to the tail hook and aft fuselage area.
Further inspection revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft bulkhead, which was likely the result of a tail strike during the bounced landing during the previous flight. The flight instructor reported that he did not hear the tail strike during the bounced landing and he did not inspect the empennage before departing for the terminating destination.
The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The flight instructor's incorrect pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a tail strike.
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93543/pdf
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93543
