A small aircraft carrying a group of pickleball players crashed into a wooded area near Wimberley late Thursday night, killing all five people on board, authorities confirmed.
The plane, identified as a Cessna 421C, had departed from Amarillo and was en route to New Braunfels National Airport. The crash occurred around 11 pm, roughly 40 miles southwest of Austin, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Images from the scene showed the aircraft destroyed among dense trees.
“The pilot and four passengers on board were pronounced deceased on scene,” Sgt. Billy Ray told reporters, as quoted by AP.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims. The Amarillo Pickleball Club confirmed that those on board were members travelling to a tournament.
The group was headed to an event at the Cranky Pickle. Organisers cancelled the tournament on Friday and said they would honour the victims.
Air traffic control audio suggested something went wrong shortly before the crash. A controller reported that the aircraft began moving erratically before disappearing from radar.
Federal agencies have launched an investigation into the incident. Dan Dyer, president of the Amarillo Pickleball Club, said he knew most of those on board and had played with them frequently. “I’ve handed them medals. They were excellent players. They were out to win some games,” he said, noting that many players regularly travel for competitions.
Another plane travelling from Amarillo to the same event landed safely in New Braunfels. At least one pilot reported receiving a distress signal from the downed aircraft before it crashed.
Weather conditions in the area were mostly cloudy at the time, with a thunderstorm reported later by the National Weather Service. Wimberley and New Braunfels are popular destinations in Texas Hill Country.
