A devastating plane crash in Colorado on February 13 resulted in the deaths of four people, including two CEOs. The incident involved an Epic E1000 aircraft that went down in a remote mountainous area near Steamboat Springs around 12:20 a.m. on that Friday.
The victims have been identified as Aaron Stokes, 47, a millionaire CEO, his 21-year-old son Jakson, his 21-year-old nephew Colin Stokes, and 37-year-old Austin Huskey, who was identified as a business leader.
Aaron Stokes was the founder of several car repair enterprises, including EuroFix, Amerifix, and Shop Fix Academy, located in Franklin, Tennessee, as noted on his LinkedIn profile.
In a heartfelt tribute, his company remarked on Facebook, "The loss has profoundly affected his family, the Shop Fix Academy team, and the wider automotive community. Stokes empowered thousands of auto repair shop owners and numerous business leaders, fostering significant growth in their operations and leadership. His influence transcended mere financial success..."
Jakson Stokes was attending Franklin Christian Academy, as stated on his Facebook. His girlfriend, Kalia Velez, expressed her grief on Instagram, stating, "Words cannot capture the depth of my heartache. This feels unreal, truly my worst nightmare... Jakson, you are my best friend and the love of my life. Facing life without you is going to be extremely challenging..."
Austin Huskey operated as the third-generation CEO of Huskey Building Supply, also based in Franklin. He had been honored as one of LBMs Journal's 40 under 40 in 2025.
In an announcement on Instagram, Huskey's company mourned his unexpected passing, saying, "With heavy hearts, we mourn the unexpected loss of our CEO, Austin Huskey. Austin was a courageous leader, a kind individual, a dedicated father and husband, and a faithful follower of Christ... He led through his actions and words."
Huskey is survived by his wife, Kat, and their two children.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided preliminary information indicating that the precise circumstances surrounding the plane crash remain unclear. According to records from Tennessee businesses, The New York Times noted that the crashed aircraft belonged to ALS Aviation, a limited liability company based in Franklin.
Flight data showed that the plane took off from Kansas City Downtown Airport shortly after 10 p.m., en route to Bob Adams Airport in Steamboat Springs prior to the crash, which occurred southeast of the airport. Notably, the aircraft had previously flown from Nashville to Kansas City the night before.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NTSB are currently investigating the tragedy.
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