A luxurious six-seat turboprop slammed into the rugged slopes of Emerald Mountain just minutes after midnight Friday, killing all four people on board in a remote area south of world-famous Steamboat Springs.
The sleek Epic E1000, known as the “Ferrari of the sky,” took off from Grand Junction bound for Steamboat Springs/Hayden Airport but never arrived. Instead, it crashed in steep, snow-covered terrain that rescue crews could only reach on foot and by snowcat.
Victims Confirmed Dead at Remote Crash Site
Routt County Coroner Mitch Locke confirmed all four occupants died instantly at the scene. Names have not been released pending family notification.
Sheriff Doug Scherar described the site as “extremely remote and difficult to access,” located high on Emerald Mountain directly across the Yampa River from downtown Steamboat Springs. First responders battled darkness, deep snow, and freezing temperatures to reach the wreckage.
The impact was so violent that the aircraft was completely destroyed, leaving investigators with a challenging puzzle.
High-Performance Epic E1000 Registered in Tennessee
Federal records show the aircraft, tail number N44EP, is owned by ALS Aviation LLC based in Franklin, Tennessee. The company has no public phone listing and its registered agent is a law firm.
The Epic E1000 is a carbon-fiber speed demon capable of cruising at 333 knots, roughly 383 mph, faster than many corporate jets. Priced at around $3.85 million, it appeals to wealthy pilots who want both luxury and performance.
Only about 80 of these planes exist worldwide.
Weather and Visibility Appear Excellent
Flight tracking data shows the plane departed Grand Junction at 11:37 p.m. Thursday under clear skies and light winds. Steamboat Springs reported calm conditions with unlimited visibility at the time of the crash.
“The weather was perfect. This was not a weather-related accident,” a local pilot familiar with the route told reporters at the airport.
That leaves investigators focusing on possible mechanical failure, spatial disorientation, or controlled flight into terrain, the leading cause of general aviation fatalities in mountainous areas.
Investigation Now in NTSB Hands
The National Transportation Safety Board has taken over the probe, with a preliminary report expected within two weeks.
Recovery teams worked through Friday afternoon to remove remains and secure the wreckage. The mangled fuselage and wings lay scattered across a snowy hillside dotted with pine trees.
Because of the remote location, investigators will have to be flown in by helicopter once weather allows.
This marks the second fatal crash involving an Epic E1000 since the model was certified in 2020.
Steamboat Springs, famous for its champagne powder snow and Olympic ski heritage, is reeling from the tragedy. Residents woke up to emergency sirens echoing through the valley in the pre-dawn hours.
One local who heard the low-flying plane moments before impact said the engine sounded normal until the sudden silence.
The tight-knit mountain town is now coming together to support search crews and awaits answers about what caused the lives of four people to end so suddenly on a clear winter night.
What do you think went wrong on this tragic flight? Drop your thoughts below and share this story with #SteamboatPlaneCrash if you’re talking about it on social media.
