Colorado plane crash: All 4 victims identified after Epic E1000 aircraft goes down near Steamboat Springs

Authorities have named the four people who died after a single-engine airplane crashed into mountainous terrain near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on Friday.

Published on: Feb 15, 2026 5:43 AM IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Authorities have named the four people who lost their lives after a single-engine airplane crashed into mountainous terrain near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on Friday, February 13. The Epic E1000, a six‑seat turboprop aircraft, went down about 12:20 am, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, Newsweek reported.

The four people were pronounced dead at the scene, Routt County Coroner Mitch Locke said. “All four victims have been recovered from the scene, and the Routt County Coroner’s Office is working to notify their families today,” the statement said.

Victims identified

The Routt County coroner’s office has now identified the victims of the crash, according to KJCT News. They are:

47-year-old Aaron Stokes
21-year-old Jakson Stokes, who is Aaron Stokes’ son
21-year-old Colin Stokes, who is Arron Stokes’ nephew
37-year-old Austin Huskey, believed to be a friend of the Stokes

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the incident. Meanwhile, the NTSB said in a statement on Friday that the crash occurred under “unknown circumstances.”

What we know about the crash and the aircraft

The crash took place on Emerald Mountain, roughly three nautical miles south of Steamboat Springs’ Bob Adams Airport, AVweb reported. The plane crashed after striking terrain near the summit during an approach to the airport. Flight‑tracking data reviewed by AVweb showed that the plane had departed Kansas City’s Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport.

The aircraft that crashed is registered to ALS Aviation LLC of Franklin, Tennessee. It received its airworthiness certificate in April 2024, valid through 2031, per The Tennessean of Nashville. According to the outlet, ALS Aviation was registered in 2021, but later listed as inactive and dissolved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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