FAA Suspends Steamboat Springs Z Approach After Fatal E1000 Crash

FAA Suspends Approach After Fatal Crash

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a NOTAM placing the RNAV (GPS) Z approach to runway 32 at Steamboat Springs-Bob Adams Field (KSBS) on a not-authorized list from Feb. 19 through Oct. 1, 2026. The suspension follows a fatal crash on Feb. 13 in which an Epic E1000 (N98FK) descended below the minimum descent altitude at waypoint WDCHK and struck a mountaintop.

The accident killed all four occupants — pilot Aaron Stokes, his son Jakson Stokes, nephew Colin Stokes, and friend Austin Huskey — who were traveling from Franklin, Tennessee. The NTSB investigation focuses on pilot experience, avionics configuration, and whether the wrong approach procedure was loaded, while the FAA's action aims to prevent further incidents during the high-terrain, nighttime conditions that characterize the approach.

Safety Implications and Expert Analysis

Pilots operating to KSBS must read current NOTAMs and use the approved RNAV (GPS) E approach instead of the Z variant. Aviation safety experts, including BlancoLirio's YouTube analysis and the AOPA Air Safety Institute, noted the aircraft's 75-foot descent below the waypoint's required altitude, suggesting possible loss of situational awareness. Local pilots caution that the short, narrow runway and surrounding terrain make the approach especially hazardous, particularly for aircraft operating at Category C speeds typical of the Epic E1000.

The incident underscores the broader challenges of IFR operations in mountainous terrain and the necessity for strict adherence to published procedures.