Five Pickleball Players Lost in Texas Plane Crash

Clear Facts

• Five people, including four pickleball players and their pilot, died when their plane crashed in Wimberley, Texas, on Thursday night while en route to a tournament
• The victims were identified as Hayden Dillard, Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala, Stacy Hedrick, and pilot Justin Appling, all from Amarillo
• The plane began moving erratically before disappearing from radar at 11 p.m., prompting air traffic controllers to call 911 as the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitted a distress signal

A tragic plane crash in Central Texas has claimed the lives of five individuals, including four dedicated pickleball players traveling to compete in a tournament. The victims have been identified as members of the Amarillo Pickleball Club.

The deceased include Hayden Dillard, Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala, and Stacy Hedrick, all passionate players from Amarillo, Texas, along with pilot Justin Appling. The group was headed to a tournament in New Braunfels when disaster struck Thursday night.

Dan Dyer, president of the Amarillo Pickleball Club, knew the victims well and had competed alongside them many times.

“I’ve handed them medals. They were excellent players. They were out to win some games. Every weekend there are dozens of tournaments. Some people get the bug; others don’t. But once they do, they’ll travel for a tournament.”

The aircraft crashed in Wimberley, a small city located 40 miles southwest of Austin, at approximately 11 p.m. Thursday. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation, though the cause of the crash remains undetermined.

A second plane carrying pickleball players from Amarillo was traveling to the same event and landed safely at the New Braunfels airport, about 30 miles northeast of San Antonio. Air traffic control audio reveals the chilling moments when the tragedy unfolded.

“I haven’t heard anything from him,” the pilot of the second plane reported to air traffic control.

A controller responded with growing concern.

“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 vicinity confirmed that the troubled aircraft’s emergency locator device had transmitted a distress signal. Controllers immediately contacted 911.

Weather conditions at the time included mostly cloudy skies in the New Braunfels area, with a thunderstorm developing two hours after the crash, according to the National Weather Service. Wimberley, home to approximately 3,000 residents, and New Braunfels, with a population near 116,000, are both popular tourist destinations in the Texas Hill Country.

The pickleball community has been hit hard by this loss, as the sport continues to grow in popularity across America. These players represented the competitive spirit and camaraderie that defines the game.

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