Millionaire CEO and Tennessee Business Owner Among Fatalities in Colorado Plane Crash
Two prominent business figures from Tennessee have been identified as victims of a devastating small plane crash that occurred near the Colorado ski community of Steamboat Springs in the early hours of Friday morning. The tragic incident claimed four lives in total, sending shockwaves through both the automotive and building supply industries.
Victims Identified as Industry Leaders
Authorities have confirmed that among those killed were 46-year-old Aaron Stokes, the founder of EuroFix and Shop Fix Academy, and 37-year-old Austin Huskey, the CEO and third-generation owner of Huskey Truss and Building Supply. The pair were traveling aboard an Epic E1000 turboprop aircraft when it crashed in the Emerald Mountains at approximately 12:20am local time.
Also onboard were Stokes' 21-year-old son, Jackson, and his 21-year-old nephew, Colin Stokes. The aircraft was registered to ALS Aviation LLC, based in Franklin, Tennessee. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations to determine the precise cause of the catastrophic crash.
Aaron Stokes: From Humble Beginnings to Automotive Empire
Aaron Stokes was widely recognized across North America as an influential figure in the automotive repair sector. His creation, Shop Fix Academy, served as a coaching and leadership development organization for more than 1,500 independent auto repair shop owners. According to his biography on the EuroFix website, Stokes' journey into the industry began unexpectedly after a car accident left him stranded and without funds across state lines.
This challenging situation forced him to take on various side jobs while studying vehicle repair intensively, ultimately enabling him to fix his own car and return home to Franklin, Tennessee. Although he had enjoyed tinkering with dirt bikes and four-wheelers during his youth, Stokes credited this pivotal event with sparking his profound passion for automotive repair and inspiring him to establish his own business.
In 1999, Stokes founded his first repair shop in a single-car garage near downtown Franklin. Within just five years, demand necessitated expansion to a larger facility. This initial success marked what he described as a "tipping point," paving the way for multiple locations across Middle Tennessee. Today, EuroFix operates from five separate sites throughout the region.
"I started this business with $50 in tools and an idea, that there is a better way to do auto repair," Stokes once stated on his company website. "I believe we have found that." His career was not without significant challenges, however. The EuroFix website details a period when the business faced "an unexpected and extremely challenging obstacle" that nearly resulted in complete financial collapse.
Stokes managed to recover from this setback, and his resilience soon attracted attention from other auto shop owners seeking his guidance. This led directly to the establishment of Shop Fix Academy, through which he promoted his core philosophy: "When you fix the owner, you fix the shop." He believed this approach strengthened not only businesses but also the families behind them.
An online obituary remembers Stokes as "a self-made multimillionaire with 25 years of entrepreneurial experience" whose legacy includes the upcoming Tektonic 2026 conference, an event he championed to foster collaboration and growth within the industry. Beyond his professional achievements, he was described as possessing "a vibrant personality, kindness and adventurous spirit" who "embraced life with enthusiasm."
Personal Tributes and Professional Impact
Jason Hull, CEO of the marketing group DoorGrow, paid emotional tribute to Stokes, describing him as a cherished mentor. "My notes app is filled with wisdom from him," Hull posted on Facebook. "He taught me that our job as coaches is to give hope and believe in our coaching clients. I now rarely end a call without saying 'I believe in you...' they always light up."
Hull reflected on the profound impact Stokes had on countless business owners, adding, "God must have needed a coach that could inspire thousands in heaven. No doubt Aaron is the right man for the job. Everyone Aaron coached is now impacting others. May we all be more like Aaron."
In a deeply personal social media post, Annie Stokes remembered her brother not for his business acumen, but for his unwavering familial support. "To me, he was the boy who taught me how to braid. Who let me tag along with his friends even when they didn't want me to," she wrote. "Who sat with me in the hospital when my baby was sick. Who cried with me on the phone when I told him my marriage was ending."
She concluded, "He was a great businessman and leader and coach. But mostly, he was my brother."
Austin Huskey: A Legacy of Generosity and Innovation
Austin Huskey, the other business leader lost in the crash, was recognized as an LBM Journal 40 Under 40 recipient in 2025 for his exemplary work at Huskey Truss and Building Supply. This family-owned enterprise has served Middle Tennessee communities for decades, and Huskey was celebrated for continuing this legacy through "generosity and ingenuity."
In an Instagram post announcing his death, the company highlighted how his "faithful work saw Huskey continue to thrive in the midst of nationwide economic uncertainty." The tribute noted that his "artistic giftings are evident everywhere he touched, from his musical talents to Huskey's new luxury design showroom."
"His passion and energy uplifted everyone around him and encouraged us all to continue to strive forward daily," the statement continued. "He lived life to the fullest while remaining rooted in his role as a husband, father and son of God. His love was felt in every room he entered, giving time to everyone he came in contact with. No voice was too small, no opinion too little."
The company emphasized Huskey's leadership style, stating he "placed a premium on listening to every person under his stewardship and empowering them to grow and succeed. Austin led by example, led by being in the arena, led by his own actions and words." With three locations across Middle Tennessee, the business expressed collective grief, saying, "Mourn with us as we recognize Austin is now in the arms of his Savior. We yearn for the day we all embrace him again."
As investigations into the crash continue, both the automotive and building supply industries mourn the loss of two dynamic leaders whose impacts extended far beyond their business successes to touch countless lives through mentorship, innovation, and personal kindness.
