This article summarizes reporting by WSMV 4 Nashville and Caleb Wethington.

Four Killed in Crash of Tennessee-Based Aircraft in Colorado

A single-engine turboprop Commercial-Aircraft registered to a Tennessee limited liability company crashed near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, early Friday, February 13, 2026, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals on board. While initial headlines described the location as “near Denver,” the incident occurred approximately 165 miles northwest of the capital, in the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains.

According to reporting by WSMV 4 Nashville, the flight originated in the Nashville area. Local authorities in Colorado have confirmed that the crash site is located on Emerald Mountain, a peak immediately west of downtown Steamboat Springs. The crash occurred shortly after midnight Mountain Standard Time as the aircraft was on approach to Bob Adams Field (KSBS).

The Routt County Coroner, Mitch Locke, indicated that officials are currently working to positively identify the victims. As of Friday afternoon, the names of the deceased have not been released pending notification of next of kin.

Flight Path and Aircraft Details

The aircraft involved has been identified as an Epic E1000, a high-performance, six-seat single-engine turboprop. Data indicates the plane departed from Nashville, Tennessee, and made a scheduled stop in Kansas City before proceeding toward the Colorado ski resort town.

Ownership and Registration

Public records link the aircraft to ALS Aviation LLC, an entity based in Brentwood, Tennessee, a suburb south of Nashville. WSMV reports that the plane is registered to this local company, suggesting a private flight rather than a commercial charter. The address listed for the LLC appears to be residential, consistent with private aircraft ownership structures.

Routt County Search and Rescue teams recovered four bodies from the wreckage on the south-facing side of Emerald Mountain. The recovery operation was conducted in challenging winter conditions, with temperatures hovering near freezing and cloud cover obscuring the terrain.

Investigation Underway

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a formal investigation into the Accident. An NTSB investigator was scheduled to arrive at the scene on Friday afternoon to begin documenting the wreckage and gathering data.

Regarding the status of the victims, the local sheriff provided a brief update on the coroner’s progress:

“The sheriff said the coroner is working to identify the victim and notify their next of kin.”

, Reporting via WSMV

At this stage, the cause of the crash remains listed as “unknown circumstances.” Investigators will likely examine weather data, pilot communications, and engine performance logs. Automated weather reports from Steamboat Springs around the time of the crash indicated visibility between 5 and 10 miles with low cloud layers and potential patchy snow.

AirPro News Analysis: The Challenges of Mountain Approaches

While the specific cause of this tragedy has not yet been determined, the approach to Bob Adams Field (KSBS) in Steamboat Springs is known within the Airlines community as technically demanding. The Airports is surrounded by mountainous terrain, requiring precise navigation, particularly during night operations or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

The Epic E1000 is a capable, modern aircraft designed for speed and altitude, often compared to the TBM series or the Pilatus PC-12. However, single-pilot operations into high-altitude mountain airports at night present significant workload challenges. The crash site on Emerald Mountain lies roughly three nautical miles south of the destination airport, an area where aircraft would typically be maneuvering for final alignment with the runway.

We will continue to monitor updates from the NTSB and local authorities regarding the identification of the victims and the preliminary findings of the investigation.

Sources

Sources: WSMV 4 Nashville

This article summarizes reporting by CBC News and data from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

A Porter Airlines flight carrying 64 people slid off the tarmac at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) on the evening of Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The incident occurred amidst a severe winter storm that brought heavy snow and near-zero visibility to the region. While the aircraft was disabled in deep snow for several hours, officials confirmed there were no injuries among the passengers or crew.

According to reporting by CBC News, the incident involved Flight PD209, an Embraer E195-E2 arriving from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The runway excursion took place shortly after 8:21 PM AST, following what passengers described as a standard landing. The aircraft reportedly lost traction while attempting to turn from the active runway onto a taxiway, sliding laterally into the snow.

Incident Overview and Flight Details

Flight PD209 landed on Runway 14/32 during a period of intense winter weather. Data cited in research reports indicates that the aircraft completed its landing roll successfully. The loss of control occurred specifically during the low-speed maneuver to exit the runway. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) characterized the event as a “lateral slide” rather than a high-speed overrun.

The aircraft carried 59 passengers and 5 crew members. Porter Airlines confirmed in a statement that the plane “became disabled in snow off of the taxiway after landing due to weather conditions.”

Passenger Accounts of the Slide

Passengers on board described a sudden shift in the aircraft’s movement after the initial landing. Speaking to CBC News, passenger Samuel Gaboury noted that the plane attempted to turn before losing traction.

“It really was sliding and tried to take a turn and the plane decided it wasn’t going… and we got stuck.”

, Samuel Gaboury, via CBC News

Following the excursion, the aircraft remained upright but lodged in deep snow, requiring a complex evacuation process.

Evacuation and Operational Impact

The severe weather conditions complicated efforts to deplane the passengers. According to reports, those on board were stranded for approximately 2.5 hours. Ground crews initially struggled to secure stairs to the aircraft due to ice and snow accumulation on the tarmac.

Witnesses reported that equipment, including the stairs, was “spinning out of control” due to the slick surfaces. Eventually, airport crews cleared a safe path, allowing passengers to disembark and board buses to the terminal. Despite the delay and the frightening nature of the slide, passengers reportedly praised the flight crew for maintaining calm and professionalism throughout the ordeal.

Airport Operations

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (HIAA) confirmed that Runway 14/32 was closed immediately following the incident to facilitate the removal of the aircraft. However, the airport’s primary runway, 05/23, remained operational. The closure and the ongoing storm caused delays and cancellations for other flights arriving and departing Halifax on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

AirPro News Analysis

Contextualizing Runway Excursions

It is important to distinguish this event from a runway overrun. A taxiway excursion, as described in this incident, typically occurs at much lower speeds than a landing overrun. While less likely to result in catastrophic structural damage, these incidents highlight the extreme challenges of winter operations in Atlantic Canada. The rapid degradation of runway friction, even minutes after plowing, can render steering ineffective during turns, a known hazard for pilots operating in active snowstorms.

Investigation Status

As of Thursday, February 12, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is collecting information regarding the event. While a full Class-1 investigation has not been declared, the TSB is monitoring the recovery of the aircraft. Porter Airlines has dispatched resources to tow the aircraft to a hangar for a thorough inspection to ensure no hidden damage occurred during the slide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was anyone injured on Flight PD209?
No. All 59 passengers and 5 crew members evacuated safely with no reported injuries.

What caused the plane to slide?
Preliminary reports and airline statements attribute the slide to severe weather conditions and a loss of traction while the pilot attempted to turn the aircraft off the runway onto a taxiway.

Is Halifax Airport open?
Yes. While the secondary runway (14/32) was closed for aircraft recovery, the primary runway (05/23) remained open. Travelers should check with their airlines due to weather-related delays.

Sources

• CBC News
• Global News
• Transportation Safety Board of Canada

This article summarizes reporting by Reuters and David Shepardson.

FAA Awards $1.5 Billion Management Contracts to Peraton for Historic Air Traffic Overhaul

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed the value of a critical management contract aimed at modernizing the nation’s aging air traffic control system. According to reporting by Reuters, the agency has awarded a $1.5 billion contract to national security firm Peraton. This agreement positions Peraton as the project manager for a broader $12.5 billion initiative designed to replace 1960s-era technology with modern cloud computing and fiber optics.

The contract is a central component of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), legislation signed into law in July 2025 that allocated significant funding for infrastructure modernization. While the total initial Investments stands at $12.5 billion, the $1.5 billion segment specifically designates Peraton as the “Prime Integrator,” tasked with overseeing the complex portfolio of subcontractors and risks involved in the transition.

This overhaul represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure updates in FAA history, with a targeted completion date of 2028. However, as detailed in government reports, the project faces steep challenges regarding its timeline and long-term funding requirements.

Contract Structure and the “Prime Integrator” Role

Unlike traditional hardware procurement, this contract focuses on management and integration. Peraton’s role is to ensure the various moving parts of the modernization effort, ranging from Software updates to physical infrastructure replacement, adhere to strict schedules and budgets.

According to details emerging from the deal, the contract includes a “No Excuses” clause, which ties Peraton’s fees directly to performance metrics. This structure is intended to avoid the cost overruns that plagued previous modernization attempts. The $1.5 billion value was reportedly negotiated down from an initial proposal, with the administration securing a discount of approximately $200 million.

Funding and Future Costs

While the current legislation provides a $12.5 billion “down payment,” officials have signaled that more funding will be necessary to complete the full scope of the work. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly stated that the initial funds are insufficient for the total overhaul.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill gave us a strong $12.5 billion down payment… But to finish the job… we’re going to need another $20 billion.”

, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

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Who is Peraton?

Although often described as a national security firm, Peraton holds a significant legacy in Airports infrastructure. Owned by private equity firm Veritas Capital, Peraton was formed through the consolidation of several major government IT contractors, including the government business lines of Harris Corporation and Northrop Grumman, as well as Perspecta.

Through these acquisitions, Peraton inherited decades of experience managing FAA data communications and systems engineering. Industry analysts note that while the brand name is relatively new, the operational teams possess deep institutional knowledge of the FAA’s “NextGen” components and existing architecture.

Technological Goals and Timeline Risks

The primary technical objective of the overhaul is to move the FAA from facility-based computing to a cloud-based architecture. This involves replacing tens of thousands of copper telecommunication lines with fiber optics and upgrading 318 facilities. Additionally, the plan calls for the installation of 612 new Radar-Systems by June 2028.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the necessity of this technological leap in recent remarks.

“We’ve got to get out of these tiny facility computers and into infinite compute power in the cloud. That is going to be what unlocks true airspace redesign opportunities.”

, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford

Feasibility Concerns

Despite the optimism from agency leadership, independent oversight bodies have expressed caution. A March 2025 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) warned that many critical systems are currently “unsustainable.” The GAO estimated that a realistic timeline for modernizing some of these systems could be six to ten years, significantly longer than the three-year window targeted by the current administration.

The project also follows the shadow of the “NextGen” program, which began in 2003. After costing over $35 billion, NextGen delivered only a fraction of its promised benefits by 2024. The appointment of a “Prime Integrator” is seen by industry experts as a direct strategy to mitigate the management fragmentation that hindered previous efforts.

AirPro News Analysis

The decision to utilize a “Prime Integrator” model with a “No Excuses” clause suggests a significant shift in how the FAA approaches procurement. Historically, the agency has managed individual programs in silos, leading to integration nightmares where new software could not communicate with old hardware. By centralizing responsibility with Peraton, the FAA is effectively outsourcing the integration risk.

However, the 2028 deadline appears exceptionally aggressive. Replacing physical infrastructure, specifically the transition from copper to fiber across hundreds of facilities, often encounters unforeseen physical and environmental delays that software management cannot easily compress. If the GAO’s six-to-ten-year estimate proves accurate, the administration may face difficult decisions regarding scope reduction or additional funding requests well before the 2028 deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total value of the FAA modernization project?
The initial investment funded by the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is $12.5 billion. The specific management contract awarded to Peraton is worth $1.5 billion. Officials estimate an additional $20 billion may be needed to finish the job.

What is Peraton’s role?
Peraton is serving as the “Prime Integrator.” They are responsible for managing the project, coordinating subcontractors, and ensuring the overhaul meets schedule and cost targets.

When is the project supposed to be finished?
The official goal is to complete the overhaul by 2028, though the GAO has suggested a realistic timeline could extend significantly beyond that date.

Sources

• Reuters