4 Dead in Small Plane Crash Near Steamboat Springs

Authorities investigating cause of crash into mountainous terrain

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Four people were killed when a small six-seat turboprop plane crashed into mountainous terrain near the Colorado ski resort community of Steamboat Springs on Friday morning. The Epic E1000 plane went down around 12:20 a.m. with four people on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities.

Why it matters

Small plane crashes near ski resort communities are rare but can have devastating impacts, both in terms of loss of life and disruption to local tourism economies. The NTSB and FAA will investigate the cause of this crash to determine if it was due to mechanical failure, pilot error, or other factors in order to improve aviation safety.

The details

The plane, an Epic E1000 turboprop, crashed into mountainous terrain under unknown circumstances, according to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board. All four people on board were killed at the scene, the Routt County coroner confirmed. The plane is registered to a Tennessee-based company, ALS Aviation LLC, though no contact person is listed in state business records.

  • The plane crashed around 12:20 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

National Transportation Safety Board

An independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation.

Routt County Coroner

The county official responsible for investigating and determining the cause of deaths in Routt County, Colorado.

ALS Aviation LLC

The Tennessee-based company that owns the plane involved in the crash, though no contact person is listed in state business records.

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What’s next

The FAA and NTSB will continue their investigation into the cause of the crash, which could take several months to complete.

The takeaway

This tragic small plane crash near the popular Steamboat Springs ski resort highlights the risks and dangers inherent in general aviation, even in seemingly ideal flying conditions. The investigation will aim to determine if there were any mechanical, pilot, or other factors that contributed to the accident in order to improve safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.