By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio/Blizzard Broadcasting.

 

UPDATE AT 9:55 A.M. FAA Statement — This information is preliminary and subject to change.

An Epic E1000 crashed near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, around 12:20 a.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 13. Four people were on board. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.

• Contact local authorities for information about those on board.
• View the FAA’s preliminary accident/incident report here.
• The aircraft registration number (N-number) is N98FK. You can search it here.

 

ORIGINAL POST

Four people died in a plane crash on the back of Emerald Mountain early Friday morning. Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar confirms it was on the backside of Emerald. He says all bodies have been recovered and the Routt County Coroner will work on notifying the families today.

 

Sheriff Scherar says the crash happened in a very remote area of Emerald, after midnight. There is a closure in that area right now, that is clearly marked by yellow tape, so please do not go there.

 

Sheriff Scherar also says Routt County Search and Rescue was instrumental in getting people to the crash site, including Routt County Sheriff’s officers, Steamboat Springs Police, and the Routt County Coroner.

 

Investigators with the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are on their way to the crash and are expected to be here this afternoon.

 

 

Here is more on a press release from NTSB this morning:

 

NTSB is investigating the crash of an Epic Aircraft E1000 on Feb. 13 near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The preliminary information we have is the plane crashed into mountainous terrain under unknown circumstances.

 

An NTSB investigator is en route to the scene and is expected to arrive by this afternoon. Once on site, the investigator will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.

 

NTSB investigations involve three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment. As part of this process, investigators will gather the following information and records:

 

• Flight track data

• Recordings of any air traffic control communications

• Aircraft maintenance records

• Weather forecasts and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident

• Pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience

• 72-hour background of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safely operate the flight

• Witness statements

• Electronic devices that could contain information relevant to the investigation

• Any available surveillance video, including from doorbell cameras

 

Witnesses to the accident or those who have surveillance video or other information that could be relevant to the investigation are asked to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.

 

During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident.

 

The NTSB has no role in the release of the identities of accident victims and/or the extent and number of injuries nor does it release the identities of those injured or killed; that’s handled by local authorities.

 

A preliminary report will be available within 30 days; it can be accessed by searching our investigations database with the NTSB number CEN26FA115. It will also be posted on NTSB Newsroom Twitter .

 

The preliminary report will contain factual information gathered during the initial phase of the investigation. A probable cause of the crash along with any contributing factors will be detailed in the final report, which is expected in 12-24 months.