5 Killed in Small Plane Crash Near Wimberley, Texas

WIMBERLEY, Texas -- Five people died when a small plane crashed late Thursday night in a rural area northwest of Wimberley, authorities said.

Emergency responders were called to the scene around 11 p.m. in the 200 block of Round Rock Road, near Ledgerock Road and FM 2325, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said. The Cessna 421C had five people aboard, and all were killed on impact. Identities of the victims were not released Friday, pending notification of next of kin.

Preliminary findings indicate the aircraft was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck the ground, Becerra stated in a Facebook post. There was no evidence of a midair collision. A second aircraft in the vicinity landed safely in New Braunfels, about 30 miles east.

The Federal Aviation Administration registered the crash at approximately 11:25 p.m. and notified the National Transportation Safety Board. Both agencies will lead the investigation into the cause, which remains under review.

Wimberley, a community of about 3,000 residents in the Texas Hill Country, lies roughly 40 miles southwest of Austin along the Blanco River. The area draws tourists for hiking and outdoor recreation, though local officials...