Full Breakdown
Fatal Texas Plane Crash Claims Five Amarillo Pickleball Club Members
5/4/2026, 2:23:57 AM
The Crash: Who, What, When, Where, and How
On Thursday night a Cessna 421C left Amarillo for New Braunfels National Airport. At about 11:25 p.m. it crashed in a wooded area near Wimberley, about 40 miles southwest of Austin. Flight-tracking shows a sudden sharp turn and a rapid descent from 13,600 feet to 7,000 feet before the signal was lost. The wreckage ignited. Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed all five occupants died.
Victims and Their Community Ties
The five victims were: Justin “Glen” Appling, 37, pilot and co-owner of a manufactured-home dealership; Hayden Dillard, 39, co-owner of the same business and longtime mixed-doubles partner of Appling; Brooke Skypala, 45, mental-health counselor with a master’s in education; Stacy Hedrick, 51, tennis player; and Seren Wilson, 19, 2022 UIL team-tennis state champion. All were Amarillo Pickleball Club members en route to a Pro Pickleball tournament in New Braunfels.
Flight Details and Preliminary Findings
The descent’s speed and abrupt turn have been highlighted. Weather was “mostly cloudy” with a thunderstorm developing later. Texas officials reported no evidence of a mid-air collision, but the cause remains undetermined. NTSB and FAA are leading the investigation, and the wreckage will be moved to a secure facility for analysis.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
One source described the Cessna 421C as traveling at a “high rate of speed” before impact, while another reported a sudden sharp turn and rapid descent. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Official Responses
Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the crash and noted no mid-air collision evidence. NTSB dispatched investigators; the wreckage will be moved for evaluation. FAA is coordinating with NTSB. Amarillo Pickleball Club President Dan Dyer said the victims were “excellent players” who earned medals. Martin Robertson, head pro at Cranky Pickle, cancelled tournament events, calling the community “very heavy-hearted, heartbroken.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “The pickleball world is super, super small, even though it’s huge at the same time,” — Sarah Lister, club member
- “One thing I can say about this group is this group, you wanted to be around this group. They were fun, carefree, not uptight, just relaxed, loved to joke with each other, make fun of each other,” — Leroy Clifford, club member
- “We’re very heavy-hearted, heartbroken from this,” — Martin Robertson, head pro, Cranky Pickle
- “I’ve handed them medals. They were excellent players. They were out to win some games,” — Dan Dyer, Amarillo Pickleball Club President
What’s Next: Ongoing Investigation
NTSB will complete on-site documentation, transport the wreckage for forensic analysis, and release a final report. Authorities will also review flight-tracking data and weather conditions to determine the factors that led to the fatal descent.
