Full Breakdown
Fatal Cessna 421C Crash Near Wimberley, Texas
5/2/2026, 8:09:52 AM
Background & Flight Path
On April 30 2026 a Cessna 421C (N291AN) departed Amarillo for New Braunfels National Airport, a roughly 420-mile route that normally takes about two hours. The aircraft carried a pilot and four passengers over the Texas Hill Country toward Wimberley.
Timeline of Events
- ~9 p.m.: Takeoff from Amarillo.
- 11:00-11:25 p.m.: ATC audio records the Cessna moving erratically and disappearing from radar; a nearby pilot reports loss of contact.
- ?11:03 p.m.: First emergency call received; distress signal logged.
- 11:17 p.m.: Responders arrive at the 200-block of Round Rock Road in Wimberley; fire destroys the aircraft and kills all five aboard.
- Following morning: NTSB and FAA investigators dispatched; a second aircraft lands safely in New Braunfels.
Data & Statistics
- Occupants: 5 (pilot + 4 passengers) – all fatalities.
- Aircraft: Cessna 421C, classified “destroyed” by the FAA.
- Crash site: 200 Block of Round Rock Road, Wimberley, ~40 mi (?64 km) SW of Austin.
- Speed: Preliminary data indicate a “high rate of speed” at impact; no mid-air collision detected.
- Weather: Mostly cloudy; a thunderstorm developed two hours later (National Weather Service).
On-the-Ground Witness Accounts
Resident Stacey Rohr heard a “loud crash,” felt her house vibrate, and initially thought it was on fire. Neighbor Cecil Keith reported an “engine backfiring – ‘pow, pow, pow’” as the plane passed overhead moments before impact.
Official Statements & Responses
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said preliminary data show the aircraft was traveling at high speed, with no sign of a mid-air collision, and that a second aircraft landed safely. Sgt. Billy Ray of the Texas DPS confirmed all five occupants were dead and the plane caught fire. The NTSB will lead the investigation, focusing on pilot, aircraft, and operating environment, and will move the wreckage to a secure facility. The FAA classified the aircraft as destroyed and will cooperate with the NTSB.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list the crash time as 11:03 p.m., 11:25 p.m., or “around 11 p.m.” No cause has been identified; investigators have not yet determined whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or weather contributed. The exact impact speed remains unspecified beyond “high rate of speed.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I just heard a loud crash. I felt everything vibrate,” — Stacey Rohr, resident
- “He started to move erratically and now his track is disappeared from the scope. So we want to make sure everything’s all right with him.” — Air Traffic Controller
- “The plane did catch fire. That would indicate some pretty severe damage,” — Sgt. Billy Ray, Texas DPS
- “The Hayes County Homeland Security and Emergency Management office said emergency personnel responded to the scene and added preliminary information indicates the aircraft was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact.” — Ruben Becerra, Hays County Judge
What’s Next
The NTSB expects a preliminary factual report within 30 days and a final report within 12–24 months. Investigators are gathering flight-track data, maintenance records, ATC recordings, and witness statements. The FAA and NTSB ask anyone with information to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.
