Weather Conditions Present as Second Amarillo Aircraft Lands Safely
Second Amarillo aircraft landed safely amid weather conditions present near crash area.
Event / Disaster
Cessna 421C Crash Texas
A Cessna 421C aircraft crashed in Wimberley, Texas Hill Country on April 30, 2026, killing all five occupants. The plane departed from Amarillo bound for New Braunfels National Airport. Air traffic control recorded erratic flight behavior before radar contact was lost. The FAA and NTSB are investigating.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 2 May, 00:07 UTC
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What happened
Amarillo Pickleball Club members identified as crash victims
The five victims of the plane crash were identified as Seren Wilson (19), Brooke Skypala (45), Stacy Hedrick (51), Hayden Dillard (39), and pilot Justin Glen Appling (37). Four of the victims were members of the Amarillo Pickleball Club traveling to a tournament. Seren Wilson was a graduate of Amarillo High School and former tennis team member.
Weather conditions present near crash area before incident
According to the National Weather Service, the New Braunfels area was mostly cloudy shortly before the crash at 11 p.m. Thursday, with a thunderstorm occurring in the area approximately two hours after the crash.
Five people killed in plane crash near Wimberley, Texas
A Cessna 421C aircraft crashed near Wimberley, Texas on Thursday at 11 p.m. local time, killing all five people on board. The crash occurred approximately 40 miles southwest of Austin. The aircraft was traveling from Amarillo to New Braunfels for a pickleball tournament.
Emergency distress signal detected from crashed aircraft
Air traffic control detected that the troubled aircraft was moving erratically before its radar track disappeared from scope. At least one pilot in the area confirmed the aircraft's locator emergency device had emitted a distress signal. Air traffic control called 911 after losing contact with the aircraft.
NTSB and FAA investigating plane crash cause
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation into the crash. As of the reporting date, the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Second aircraft from Amarillo landed safely at New Braunfels
A second plane that departed from Amarillo at the same time as the crashed aircraft landed safely at the airport in New Braunfels, located approximately 30 miles northeast of San Antonio and 50 miles northeast of the crash site.
Cessna 421C aircraft crashes in Wimberley, Texas, killing all five occupants
A Cessna 421C aircraft crashed in Wimberley, Texas, approximately 40 miles southwest of Austin, around 11:25 p.m. on Thursday. All five people aboard were killed in the crash. The aircraft was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact. There was no evidence of a mid-air collision.
Aircraft departed from Amarillo bound for New Braunfels National Airport
The Cessna 421C took off from Amarillo, Texas, approximately two hours before the crash and was headed to New Braunfels National Airport, located about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio. A second aircraft traveling in the same area landed safely at the New Braunfels airport.
Pilot signals distress as aircraft track disappears from radar
According to air traffic control audio, the pilot of the second aircraft reported that the Cessna pilot began flying erratically before his radar track disappeared. The air traffic controller determined that the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter emitted a distress signal and called 911.
FAA and NTSB to investigate aircraft crash
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board initiated an investigation into the crash. The identities of the five victims have not been released pending notification of family members.
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2 alternative perspectives
Five Amarillo Pickleball Club Members Identified in Wimberley Crash
Five Amarillo Pickleball Club members confirmed dead in Texas aircraft crash.
FAA and NTSB Launch Investigation Into Cessna Crash Near Wimberley
Five killed as Cessna crashes in Texas; FAA and NTSB investigating.