Light plane crashes in Texas Hill Country, 4 pickleball competitors and pilot dead
Five people, a pilot and four pickleball competitors, have died in the crash of their light airplane, which went into a grove of trees in Texas Hill Country, reports confirm.
The crash happened about 40 miles southwest of Austin, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, with an announcement from Sgt. Billy Ray that, “The pilot and four passengers on board were pronounced deceased on scene.”.
A report at the Daily Mail said the Amarillo Pickleball Club in Amarillo confirmed the victims were members flying to a tournament.
Later they were identified as Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala, Stacy Hedrick, Glenn Appling, and Hayden Dillard.
The club’s statement pleaded, “Please keep their precious families in your thoughts and prayers. Although many were friends to players, the loss is most horrible to their close family. And those families may need our help in these times.”
The Cessna 421C left Amarillo and was going to New Braunfels National Airport.
UPDATE: The small plane that crashed in Texas Hill Country, killing all five people on board, was on its way to a pickleball tournament, according to the Amarillo Pickleball Club.https://t.co/8GvBu0WkZ0 pic.twitter.com/lfGn8DGQKX
— KWTX News 10 (@kwtx) May 1, 2026
Yesterday: a Cessna 421 crashed in Texas (US). The 5 aboard died. Aircraft went down in Wimberley: Plane was on a private flight, carrying players from the Amarillo Pickleball Club from River Falls Airport to New Braunfels.
ADS-B data indicates the airplane was cruising at… pic.twitter.com/mpAF0zcZLQ
— Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) May 1, 2026
Reports confirmed a distress signal had come from the airplane but few other details were available as the investigation was getting under way.
It was revealed the airplane was “traveling at a high rate of speed” on impact.
The competitors were going to a tournament at the Cranky Pickle in New Braunfels, about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio.
Air traffic control audio reported a controller reported the plane was moving “erratically” and then the track disappeared.