Epic E1000 Crashes Into Colorado Mountain, Killing Four

A certified Epic E1000 (registration N98FK) crashed into Emerald Mountain at 8,252 feet elevation approximately three nautical miles south of the runway at Steamboat Springs-Bob Adams Field (KSBS) on the night of Feb. 13, 2026. All four occupants were killed in the controlled flight into terrain.

The flight originated from Kansas City Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (KMKC) and was conducting an RNAV GPS-Z Runway 32 approach when it descended at 960 feet per minute to a barometric altitude of 8,250 feet, with a ground speed of 145 knots, before impacting the terrain. The NTSB has opened investigation CEN26FA115 and is recovering wreckage for analysis.

This incident marks the first hull loss of a certified Epic E1000, an aircraft that entered service in March 2024 and is equipped with Garmin avionics, terrain awareness systems and a PT6A-67A engine. The approach procedure's minimum descent altitude had been raised to 9,100 feet in February 2023 following FAA concerns about cold-weather operations safety. The crash underscores the continuing risks of night approaches into mountainous terrain despite modern navigation and terrain-warning systems.