Pickleball Plane Crash: 5 Club Members Killed Flying to a Tournament, What We Know
By David Cooper | IAmericanTimes.com | May 13, 2026
Five members of the Amarillo Pickleball Club were killed late Thursday night when their small plane crashed in a wooded area near Wimberley, Texas, a close-knit community of players who were simply chasing the sport they loved to a weekend tournament.
They never made it.
The crash, which occurred just after 11 p.m. on April 30, claimed the lives of four club members and their pilot, leaving a tight-knit sporting community in mourning and federal investigators searching for answers. It is one of the deadliest private aviation accidents in Texas in recent years, and it has shaken a sport that now claims over 24 million players across the United States.
What Happened
The group departed from Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport in Amarillo, Texas, aboard a twin-engine Cessna 421C, a cabin-class aircraft commonly used in private aviation. Their destination was New Braunfels National Airport, located just south of Austin, where a pickleball tournament was scheduled for the weekend.
They never arrived.
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft climbed normally after takeoff but began erratic flight behavior shortly before the fatal crash. Air traffic control audio captured the moment the plane disappeared from radar. In a chilling exchange recorded by the Associated Press, a nearby pilot and air traffic controller tried to locate the stricken aircraft:
Controller: “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.”
At least one pilot in the area confirmed that the Cessna’s emergency locator device had already emitted a distress signal. The controller called 911.
First responders were sent to the 200 block of Round Rock Road in Wimberley around 11:05 p.m. after reports of an aircraft down. Preliminary information indicated the aircraft was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact. There was no indication of a mid-air collision.
Residents near the crash site described a terrifying moment. “A loud crash, but almost like an earthquake, too,” neighbor Stacey Rohr told KXAN. “It was like, vibrating. And so I just ran outside, I mean, it was so close, I felt like it was the back of my place that was up in flames.”
A post-impact fire destroyed the plane. There were no survivors.
The Five Victims
The Amarillo Pickleball Club identified the five victims as Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala, Stacy Hedrick, Glen Appling, and Hayden Dillard, ranging in age from their teens to mid-40s. Texas DPS confirmed that Justin Appling was the pilot.
Seren Wilson was the youngest on board. An accomplished tennis player, she was a University Interscholastic League team tennis state champion in 2022, according to the tennis booster club at Amarillo High School, where she graduated.
Hayden Dillard was remembered by a fellow player as an amazing businesswoman and mother.
Justin Appling, the pilot, was also a pickleball player and club member. Fellow player Sarah Lister told the Associated Press that Appling was always making everyone laugh.
Dan Dyer, president of the Amarillo Pickleball Club, said he had played many games with four of the five people who died. “I’ve handed them medals. They were excellent players. They were out to win some games,” Dyer said.
A second plane carrying other club members had been traveling to the same tournament from Amarillo at the same time. It landed safely at New Braunfels National Airport.
The Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the federal investigation into the crash, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Investigators are gathering critical information including the aircraft’s maintenance logs, pilot certifications, radar tracking data, and flight recorder data. The wreckage has been moved from the crash site to a secure facility for further examination.
The NTSB’s probable cause report, typically released after months of investigation, will provide definitive insight into what triggered the plane’s sudden descent. Until then, the cause remains officially undetermined. Weather data shows it was mostly cloudy in the area shortly before the crash, with a thunderstorm reported about two hours later.
Federal authorities say the investigation may result in new safety recommendations for general aviation operators, potentially impacting pilot training standards, flight protocols, and aviation insurance policies nationwide.
A Community in Grief
The loss has devastated the Amarillo pickleball community. The Amarillo Pickleball Club announced a candlelight vigil held Saturday, May 9, at 8:30 p.m. at Amarillo Netplex, calling it “an opportunity to pause, reflect, and support one another during a difficult time.”
Memorial services were planned for each of the five victims. The club also established a benefit fund at Amarillo National Bank to support the families of those killed.
“Every weekend there are dozens of tournaments,” club president Dan Dyer told reporters. “Some people get the bug; others don’t. But once they do, they’ll travel for a tournament.”
That dedication, to travel hundreds of miles, sometimes by private plane, to compete on the weekend, is a hallmark of America’s fastest-growing sport.
The Sport They Loved: Pickleball’s Massive Rise
The five victims weren’t casual players. They were part of a national movement that has transformed American recreational life over the past five years.
According to the 2026 participation report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, approximately 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, a 22.8% increase from 2024. Over the past three years, participation has climbed an astounding 171.8%, making pickleball the fastest-growing sport in the United States over that period.
There are now over 10,724 dedicated pickleball courts in the US, and that number continues to grow rapidly. Over 70% of pickleball players fall between the ages of 18 and 44.
With dozens of tournaments every weekend across the country, passionate players regularly travel to compete, some by car, some by plane. The Amarillo club members were doing what tens of thousands of American pickleball players do every weekend. They just never came home.
Wimberley: A Texas Hill Country Town Now Marked by Tragedy
Wimberley, a vacation destination near popular swimming spots Blue Hole Regional Park and Jacob’s Well, is located about 40 miles southwest of Austin. The town of roughly 3,000 people is known for its scenic Hill Country landscapes and laid-back charm, not for air disasters.
Residents reported hearing a loud noise and feeling the ground tremble, prompting immediate emergency calls to local services. Local leadership offered condolences to the victims’ families and expressed support for the first responders who worked through the night under difficult conditions.
What’s Next
The NTSB investigation will take months to complete. In the meantime, the aviation safety community is watching closely.
Private aviation, particularly small, twin-engine planes like the Cessna 421C, carries real statistical risks that many recreational travelers don’t fully consider. While commercial aviation has become extraordinarily safe, general aviation accidents remain far more frequent per flight hour.
For the Amarillo Pickleball Club, the focus right now is on supporting the families of the five lost, honoring their memory, and figuring out how to move forward as a community.
“They were out to win some games,” Dan Dyer said.
They deserved the chance.
Sources: Fox News, Amarillo Tribune, Pickleball.com, KXAN, KUT Radio (Austin NPR), Fox 7 Austin, Travel and Tour World, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), Associated Press
EDITOR’S NOTE: The NTSB investigation into this crash is ongoing. This article reflects information available as of May 13, 2026. The cause of the crash has not been officially determined. IAmericanTimes.com will update this story as new details are released.