{"id":13509,"date":"2026-02-25T16:39:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T23:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ramoslaw.com\/?p=13509"},"modified":"2026-02-26T17:00:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:00:14","slug":"el-epico-accidente-del-avion-privado-e1000-deja-4-muertos-en-steamboat-springs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ramoslaw.com\/es\/epic-e1000-private-aircraft-crash-kills-4-in-steamboat-springs\/","title":{"rendered":"Accidente \u00e9pico de un avi\u00f3n privado E1000 deja 4 muertos en Steamboat Springs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

N98FK <\/span> Fatal Plane Crash at Bob Adams Airport in Steamboat Springs, Colorado<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

On<\/span> Friday, February 13, 2026,<\/b> an<\/span> aviation accident claimed four lives after a single-engine plane crashed just after midnight while attempting to land in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

According to the<\/span> Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) <\/b>and the<\/span> National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)<\/b>, a privately operated<\/span> Epic Aircraft E1000 <\/b>single-engine turboprop (registration <\/span>N98FK<\/b>) struck the <\/span>slope of Emerald Mountain<\/b>, a mountainous area just south of the airport, in rugged terrain as the aircraft was descending toward the runway in the early morning hours at approximately<\/span> 12:19 a.m. local time<\/b> while on approach to<\/span> Bob Adams Airport (KSBS)<\/b>, commonly referred to as \u201cSteamboat Downtown.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The aircraft originated in Nashville, Tennessee, and stopped for fuel at<\/span> Kansas City\u2013Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC\/KMKC)<\/b> in Missouri. It then departed for Steamboat Springs, where it crashed approximately three nautical miles south of the airport, short of Runway 32. <\/span>All four individuals onboard were fatally injured.<\/b><\/p>

The NTSB has launched a full investigation.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Ramos Law Aviation Director<\/b> Weighs In<\/span><\/h3>

In a detailed breakdown, Ramos Law\u2019s Director of Aviation, <\/span>Joe LoRusso<\/b>, addresses the tragedy:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cBefore we discuss this crash, it\u2019s important to acknowledge that it was fatal. There were four passengers on board and all four passengers died. From the Ramos Law Aviation team, we\u2019re deeply sorry to the friends, family members and those who are affected by this tragic crash.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>

LoRusso, who serves both as a professional pilot and aviation accident attorney, emphasized his personal familiarity with the airport:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cSteamboat Springs Airport is a regular stop for me, both as a professional pilot and personally\u2026 Steamboat Downtown\u2019s no joke. It\u2019s one of the hardest approaches in the Rocky Mountain region.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Approach: A Complex and Challenging Procedure<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

According to flight tracking data discussed in the analysis, the aircraft was flying the <\/span>RNAV (GPS) Z approach <\/b>to Runway 32 shortly after midnight.<\/span><\/p>

Weather reports indicated visibility fluctuating between five and ten statute miles, with scattered to broken cloud layers and conditions deteriorating through the night.<\/span><\/p>

What Is an RNAV (GPS) Z Approach?<\/b><\/h3>

An RNAV (GPS) Z approach is a satellite-based instrument approach procedure aligned to a specific runway. At some airports, multiple RNAV approaches exist for the same runway, typically labeled \u201cY\u201d and \u201cZ.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

At Steamboat Springs (KSBS), the RNAV (GPS) Z Runway 32 procedure provides LNAV minimums only<\/strong>\u2014meaning it does not provide certified vertical guidance (such as LPV or LNAV\/VNAV).<\/span><\/p>

One key issue highlighted was the nature of the approach itself:<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cThe approach does not provide vertical guidance,\u201d<\/span><\/i> says LoRusso. <\/span>\u201cWe see it\u2019s an LNAV minimum only\u2026 The LNAV approach means that a pilot has to descend via step-down fixes to a minimum descent altitude rather than to a decision height.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>

LoRusso further explained that the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite<\/strong> can generate advisory vertical guidance but that guidance is not certified for terrain clearance:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe vertical guidance is not certified and is advisory only. Most importantly, it does not provide obstacle clearance or terrain clearance\u2026 the airplane can couple to it.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Flight track data suggests the aircraft may have remained coupled to that advisory glidepath until impact. At the time of terrain impact, the aircraft was reportedly descending at approximately 1,000 feet per minute at around 140 knots, a profile consistent with autopilot-controlled descent.<\/span><\/p>

What Does \u201cRemain Coupled\u201d Mean?<\/b><\/h2>

When an aircraft is <\/span>\u201ccoupled\u201d<\/b> to an approach, the autopilot or flight director is actively tracking and following a programmed navigation source or glidepath. The system automatically adjusts pitch and roll inputs while the pilot monitors performance and cross-checks altitude and terrain clearance.<\/span><\/p>

Even when coupled, the pilot remains fully responsible for ensuring compliance with published minimum altitudes and terrain avoidance.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Night Operations <\/span> and Terrain Concerns<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The RNAV Zulu approach into Runway 32 carries significant limitations, including restrictions for night operations.<\/span><\/p>

LoRusso notes:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe see that the runway straight-in minimums at night is not allowed\u2026 which is a super complex and confusing way of saying that this approach\u2026 cannot be performed at night.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>

Additionally, the<\/span> minimum descent altitude (MDA)<\/b> is unusually high (approximately 2,300 feet above ground level) and offset from the runway by more than five miles, requiring visual acquisition and a non-standard descent to land.<\/span><\/p>

He explains:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cOnce you see it, you still got to get the airplane down to the runway\u2026 which is almost impossible in a very fast airplane.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>

The crash site was approximately three miles from the runway, two miles before the point where pilots would typically level off at minimum descent altitude.<\/span><\/p>

What Type of Aircraft Is the<\/span> Epic E1000?<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Epic E1000 is a high-performance, single-engine turboprop aircraft designed for <\/span>speed, range and advanced avionics capability.<\/b><\/p>

Manufactured in the United States and FAA type-certificated in 2019 (with production certification following in 2020), the aircraft was developed to compete in the premium owner-flown turboprop market.<\/span><\/p>

Powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A engine (widely regarded as one of the most reliable turboprop engines in service) the E1000 is capable of:<\/span><\/p>