Emerald Mountain, Colorado felt the weight of a tragedy early Friday when a private plane bound for Steamboat Springs struck rugged terrain around 12:20 a.m. The aircraft was an Epic E1000 turboprop registered in Tennessee and carrying four people when it went down on the south face of Emerald Mountain near the Bob Adams Airport.
Emergency teams rushed into the remote area through snow and steep ground to find all four aboard had died at the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash, but as of now the circumstances remain unknown.
Among those killed was 47-year-old Aaron Stokes of Franklin, Tennessee, a well-known figure in the automotive repair world. Stokes built his reputation over decades, founding Shop Fix Academy, running multiple independent auto shops, and hosting a radio show that guided listeners through troubleshooting cars. He was traveling with his 21-year-old son Jackson and their 21-year-old cousin Colin Stokes. The fourth victim was 38-year-old Austin Huskey, also from Tennessee.
Local authorities in Routt County confirmed the identification of the victims and said all bodies were recovered from the crash site. The small plane had departed from Nashville, made a stop in Kansas City, and was on final approach to Steamboat Springs when it struck the mountain. How and why remains one of the key questions investigators are working to answer.
Friends and colleagues in Franklin are already sharing memories of Aaron Stokes as a mentor and tireless worker who helped others grow their small businesses. His radio show drew listeners from all over, and his leadership at Shop Fix Academy earned him respect in a competitive industry. The loss of the Stokes family members and Huskey has sent shockwaves through their communities back home.
The Routt County Sheriff’s Office described the crash area as very remote, making early search efforts challenging due to deep snow and rough slopes. Local volunteers and specialized rescue units used snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles to reach the site and secure it for the ongoing investigation.
The E1000 is a six-seat plane built for performance and range, but even high-end aircraft can encounter trouble in mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather. Investigators will review flight data, maintenance records, weather patterns, and communications with air traffic control as part of the examination into what happened on that clear February night.
In the wake of the crash, family members and close friends have begun to gather to remember the lives lost. Messages from the automotive industry and from those touched by Stokes’s work are pouring in, sharing stories of his generosity and passion. For the communities tied to the victims, there are no easy words, only shared grief and growing questions about how such a routine journey ended in unfathomable loss.
