What we know about 5 victims in the Wimberley plane crash

Five people killed in a plane crash near Wimberley on Thursday have been identified, as officials and loved ones begin to piece together what happened in the final moments of the flight. The Texas Department of Public Safety on Saturday identified the victims as pilot Justin Appling and passengers Hayden Dillard, Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala and Stacy Hedrick. The group were community members of the Amarillo Pickleball Club and had been traveling to a tournament in Central Texas, according to a Friday Facebook post from the organization. "Today, the Club has received terrible news that we all must mourn in the loss of five members of our Amarillo pickleball family," the post read. "Please keep their precious families in your thoughts and prayers," the message continued. "Although many were friends to players, the loss is most horrible to their close family." Dan Dyer, the president of the Amarillo Pickleball Club, told the American-Statesman that the group was traveling to a pickleball tournament in the Austin area. "They were all well-known pickleball players," Dyer said. "I knew four out of the five personally." The club is primarily recreational, though some members compete in tournaments with cash prizes. Dyer said efforts are underway to support the victims’ families, including organizing meals and logistical assistance. What do we know about the victims? Justin Appling Justin Appling, the plane's pilot, is a Missouri native, according to his Facebook account, but moved to Amarillo. Appling was a graduate of Drury University, a private college in Springfield, Missouri, and worked as a sales manager at Clayton Homes. Hayden Dillard Appling and Hayden Dillard, one of the other victims, were listed as the owners of Amarillo Home Center, a real estate firm. Dillard, a Canyon native, often shared photos of her daughter and her friends on social media. Under one of her last posts, tributes already started rolling in, with one Facebook user writing, "RIP Sweetheart." Prayers for the whole family," another Facebook user wrote. "So tragic. Incredible loss...lifting prayers for you all." One shared that services for Appling and Dillard would be held next Friday. "Those who know Glen/Justin know that his attire would be a gray tee shirt and some HeyDudes. Those that know Hayden know that she would be either very dressed up or in her LuLu," the post read. "Therefore, attire will be up to your interpretation with the above information. Seren Wilson Seren Wilson's former high school tennis club, the Amarillo High School Tennis Booster Club, posted a tribute on Facebook on Friday. "Seren was so much more than an alumna and a 2022 UIL Team Tennis State Champion," the post read. "She was a constant supporter of Sandie Tennie and someone who poured so much into this program and the players." "Seren loved big and her presence, encouragement and spirit will be deeply missed by so many," the tribute included. Brooke Skypala According to her Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, Skypala was a mental health counselor at Finding Silver Linings Counseling. Loved ones began commemorating her life online, with a Facebook user describing her as "one of [her] very best friends." "My soul is delighted to know you. You make every single thing we do feel like an adventure. Best dancer, most willing to belly laugh, always in on a bit. Top-tier travel companion," the social media post read. "100% in to serve, and drive a bus to camp or chaperone a ski trip. Thank you for one of the most creative years of my life. One of the deepest friendships I’ve ever known." Under the post, more tributes to Skypala described her as a "wonderful, wonderful woman" and how much she would be missed. Stacy Hedrick Hedrick was reportedly one of the players on board. Dyer described them as "excellent players," and Hedrick's loved ones flooded social media, one saying she "never met a stranger" and was known for her infectious laugh and fierce competitiveness on the court. What we know about the plane crash The crash occurred late Thursday near the 200 block of Round Rock Road on the southwest side of Wimberley, according to Hays County officials. The aircraft, a Cessna 421C, went down in a wooded area between about 11 and 11:30 p.m. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said the plane was “traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact.” Residents near the crash site described hearing the plane overhead moments before the crash. One neighbor’s security camera captured what he described as a “fireball” around the time of the crash. Another resident said she felt what seemed like an earthquake and initially thought her property was on fire. No one on the ground was reported injured. What we know about the plane's route The plane was traveling from River Falls Airport, a private airfield near Amarillo, to New Braunfels National Airport, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware. It took off about 9:11 p.m. and was scheduled to land around 11:19 p.m. Tracking data shows the aircraft made a sharp turn near Ledgerock Road in Hays County before rapidly descending thousands of feet and losing signal. Another plane that departed from the same airport around the same time completed the same route safely, though it is unclear whether the aircraft were traveling together. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are leading the investigation. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Staff writer Ricardo Delgado contributed to this report