WIMBERLEY, TX, (April 30, 2026) – Hayden Dillard was tragically killed Thursday night in a small plane crash in Hays County, authorities reported.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred at approximately 11:05 p.m. in the Wimberley area, about 40 miles southwest of Austin. Dillard was among five people aboard a Cessna 421C that had departed Amarillo roughly two hours earlier and was en route to New Braunfels National Airport.
All five occupants were killed in the crash. Officials said the victims were traveling to a pickleball tournament and were representing the Amarillo Pickleball Club.
Preliminary information indicates that poor weather conditions may have played a role in the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting a joint investigation into the cause.
