A small plane carrying pickleball players crashed into trees in Texas Hill Country, killing all five people aboard. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Thursday in Wimberley, about 40 miles southwest of Austin.

Crash Details and Victims

The Cessna 421C had departed from Amarillo en route to New Braunfels National Airport. Authorities confirm the pilot and four passengers died at the scene. Sgt. Billy Ray stated, “The pilot and four passengers on board were pronounced deceased on scene.”

The victims, members of the Amarillo Pickleball Club, were heading to a tournament. Their identities remain undisclosed. Aerial footage reveals the aircraft completely destroyed in a wooded area. Federal investigators now lead the probe.

Witness Accounts

Local resident Stacey Rohr, who was in bed at the time, heard the impact and felt her home shake. “It was so close I felt like it was the back of my place up in flames,” she said, prompting her to call her landlord immediately.

Cecil Keith described hearing engine backfires—”pow, pow, pow”—as the plane flew over his house just before the crash. “Something was definitely wrong,” he told local media.

Pickleball Community Impact

Dan Dyer, president of the Amarillo Pickleball Club, knew four of the victims well. “I’ve handed them medals. They were excellent players. They were out to win some games,” Dyer shared. He noted frequent weekend tournaments draw dedicated players who travel far.

A second plane from the club reached New Braunfels safely. Its pilot reported no contact with the crashed aircraft, per air traffic control audio. Controllers noted erratic movement before the track vanished from radar, leading to an emergency locator signal activation and a 911 call.

Weather and Location

Overcast skies prevailed near New Braunfels before the crash, with a thunderstorm striking two hours later, according to National Weather Service data. Wimberley, population around 3,000, and New Braunfels, home to about 116,000, attract tourists to the scenic Texas Hill Country.