This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N291AN
- History of Flight:
On April 30, 2026, at about 2302 local time, a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle II, N291AN, registered to KB Flies LLC out of Amarillo, TX, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Wimberley, Texas. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from River Falls Airport (H81), Amarillo, Texas, at 2111, and was destined to New Braunfels Regional Airport (BAZ/KBAZ), New Braunfels, Texas.
According to flight tracking history, on April 20, 2026, at 1516, the airplane departed H81 on a short flight to Hereford (KHRX), Texas. At 1731, the airplane returned to H81. On April 24, 2026, at 1319, the airplane departed H81 on a flight to Lubbock (KLBB), Texas. The following day, at 0922, the airplane flew back to H81. On April 30, 2026, the airplane departed H81 on the accident flight.
According to preliminary information, the airplane departed along with a second airplane, N41106, a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle. Both planes were flying members of the Amarillo Pickleball Club to a pickleball tournament.
According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane entered a climbing left turn to an inflight cruising altitude of 17,000 ft. The flight appeared uneventful. At 2246:09, the airplane was tracking east, but there was weather activity present ahead of the aircraft, so a right turn was started towards the south. At about 2247:37, the airplane entered a descent from cruise altitude, and based on early flight tracking imagery, occurred at the same time as the aircraft started encountering weather activity. Several airports in the area were reporting lightning and rain. At about 2250, the airplane appeared to be in a little "zig-zag" motion with notable turns as it was descending through 15,000 ft. At 2300:00, the airplane entered a 5000 feet per minute (fpm) average rate while descending through 14,000 ft. At about 2300:46, the airplane turned right and was tracking west when it stopped the descent and entered a 7000 fpm climb back to 14,000 ft and started tracking south. However, at 2301:23, the airplane was observed again in a -7000 average rate descent back towards 11,800 ft. At about 2301:30, the airplane entered a climbing right hand turn towards 14,000 ft, but at 2301:57, the airplane was now observed on a descending right hand spiral, which the airplane did not recover from. The last ADS-B data point was recorded at 6,800 ft towards the conclusion of the spiral, the airplane was at 87 knots groundspeed with a reported average rate of -11,100 feet per minute (fpm) rate.
Preliminary ADS-B data from N41106 showed that it departed H81 at 2109 and proceeded to an inflight cruising altitude of 15,000 ft. However, around the same time N291AN started showing an erratic flight path, N41106 kept on a somewhat steady descent and continued for a normal landing at the destination airport.
According to preliminary air traffic control (ATC) transcripts, at 2257:52, the accident aircraft contacted Austin approach asking for a descent from 14,500 ft to 8,000 ft. At 2257:58, the controller responded: "Center, 219 Alpha November, where are you headed?" At 2258:02, the pilot responded: "New Braunfels, 1 Alpha November." At 2258:04, the controller said: "OK, 1 Alpha November, thank you, and descend and maintain 4000." At 2258:08, the pilot responded: "Descend and maintain 4000, 1 Alpha November. We have, uh, pitot heat has iced up, we are on backup gauges. Uh, trying to get lower to get one back up, uh, pitot heat is not working for 1 Alpha November." At 2258:20, the controller said "Roger." At 2259:44, the controller stated: "November two-one-niner, Alpha November, contact San Antonio approach one-two-seven point one." At 2259:50, the pilot responded: "twenty seven point one, Alpha November." At 2300:29, the controller asked "Two-one-niner, Alpha November, are you still with me?" There was no response from the accident airplane.
About 12 minutes later, at 2312:53, the San Antonio approach asked American Flight 691 if he was listening to a guard in the area and told them that they lost an aircraft about 3 miles from the position (of American). At 2313:07, American 691 stated that it was a "strong ELT." At 2313:15, the other 421B flying to KBAZ said they "got it as well for a moment." (ATC transcript and times were done by user hunterschuler on reddit, all credits to them.)
- Pilot Information:
Unknown at this point.
- Airplane Information:
The low-wing, retractable-landing-gear, pressurized, multiengine, 8-seat airplane, serial number (S/N) 421C0242, was manufactured in 1977. It was powered by two Continental Motors GTSIO-520 engines fitted with a RAM Conversion. The airplane was also equipped with RAM winglets and VG spoilers.
According to an old sale listing, the airplane had no damage history and was equipped for IFR flight, with the reported following avionics:
"Garmin 530 w/ XM Weather , TCAS I , Garmin 430 w/ Mode S Transponder Traffic Displayed , RDR 2000 Color Radar , Stormscope , Alt Preselect , Yaw Damp, Insight Graphic Engine Mon. , Hoskins digital Fuel Flow ,Fire detect/exting Known Ice , Fact Air"
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
Local authorities reported: "Preliminary information indicates the plane was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact, and that there is no indication of a mid-air collision."
Post-accident photos revealed that the main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, both wings, and tail, which were in a wooded area and was consumed by a post crash fire. The wreckage was oriented upright and there were no angular cuts in the trees surrounding the main wreckage.
The on-scene photos suggests the main wreckage came down flat, with little to no forward speed. It is unknown if the aircraft suffered an inflight breakup during the out of control spiral, which may have led to the main wreckage coming down in this way.
- Weather:
(1) Brief:
The reported weather conditions at KHYI at 2256 included: Winds 010 at 13 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 1,100ft AGL, temperature 19°C, dewpoint 18°C, an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches of mercury, with additional remarks of distant lightning to the southeast, and nearby rain.
The reported weather conditions at KAUS at 2253 included: Winds 030 at 13 knots, gusting 22 knots, 10 miles visibility, light rain, a scattered ceiling at 900ft AGL, a broken layer at 1,400 ft AGL, an overcast ceiling at 2,600ft AGL, temperature 19°C, dewpoint 18°C, an altimeter setting of 29.89 inches of mercury, with additional remarks of distant and occasional lightning to the east, and nearby rain.
The reported weather conditions at KBAZ at 2251 included: Winds 060 at 14 knots, gusting 21 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 1,300ft AGL, temperature 19°C, dewpoint 17°C, an altimeter setting of 29.85 inches of mercury, with additional remarks of distant lightning to the southeast, and nearby rain.
A review of the NWS Area Forecast Discussion for the San Antonio, Texas, showed that there were reports of isolated to scattered thunderstorms for the night into early Friday evening, with locally heavy rain.
Given weather imagery at the time, the freezing level would been around 14,000 ft.
(2) METARs:
METAR KHYI 010356Z 01013KT 10SM OVC011 19/18 A2991 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE RAB04E20 SLP123 P0000 T01940178
METAR KHYI 010456Z 05014KT 10SM -RA OVC011 19/17 A2989 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE RAB46 SLP115 P0000 T01890172
METAR KAUS 010353Z 03013G22KT 10SM -RA SCT009 BKN014 OVC026 19/18 A2989 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT E RAB11 CIG 010 RWY17R SLP118 OCNL LTG DSNT E P0001 T01890178
METAR KAUS 010453Z 03010G19KT 10SM BKN007 18/17 A2990 RMK AO2 RAE19 SLP120 P0000 T01830172
METAR KBAZ 010444Z AUTO 05012G20KT 10SM BKN013 OVC020 19/17 A2987 RMK AO2 RAB17E39 P0000 T01890172
METAR KBAZ 010451Z AUTO 06014G21KT 10SM OVC013 19/17 A2985 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE RAB17E39 PRESFR SLP101 P0000 T01890172
METAR KBAZ 010551Z AUTO 04017G22KT 10SM -TSRA SCT011 OVC017 19/17 A2989 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS RAB43 TSB40 SLP115 P0001 60001 T01890167 10233 20189 402500161 53001
(3) Additional:
WSUS32 KKCI 010355
SIGC
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11C
VALID UNTIL 0555Z
TX
FROM 60WNW LFK-30SW LFK-20SSW IAH-40S SAT-20NW SAT-60WNW LFK
AREA TS MOV FROM 25035KT. TOPS TO FL360.
OUTLOOK VALID 010555-010955
FROM INK-ACT-IAH-PSX-LRD-DLF-MRF-INK
WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM
PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.
(4) Area Forecast Discussion:
529 FXUS64 KEWX 302342 AFDEWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX 642 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are forecast for the rest of today into early Friday evening. Some could be strong to marginally severe. - Locally heavy rain is forecast to affect some locations across South Central Texas through early Friday evening and a Flood Watch has been issued. - Dry and cooler weather for the weekend with a warming trend forecast for the work week. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Friday night) Issued at 114 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 Latest visible imagery shows cloudy skies across most of South Central Texas with some breaks over the Coastal Plains. A mid to upper level shortwave moving across the Hill Country is helping shower and thunderstorm activity across the Hill Country especially over portions of Burnet, Blanco, and soon over Travis counties as of 1 PM CDT. This activity could be enhanced as the afternoon progresses with more activity expanding over parts of the southern Edwards Plateau. Main hazards are large hail, strong to damaging wind gusts, and localized heavy rain. We may have a lull in activity later this afternoon into the early evening, but showers and thunderstorms return over the Rio Grande mid to late evening and then move eastward overnight into Friday afternoon and possibly through early Friday evening. These storms will have the support of an upper level short wave pushing from Baja California into northern Mexico into west Texas and then over our local area throughout the day Friday. There is a moderate to high confidence on locally heavy rain across a good portion of South Central Texas late this evening through Friday evening as several rounds of heavy rain affect the local area. A Flood Watch is in effect from 9 PM CDT this evening through 9 PM CDT Friday. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are forecast with isolated 6 inches for the duration of the Flood Watch. Remember to promote the following: Stay weather aware and away from flooded areas. As the wave moves to the east of the local area Friday afternoon through the evening, rain chances come to an end from west to east. Breezy north winds are forecast to prevail late Friday afternoon through the overnight hours with gusts of 30 to 40 mph. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through next Thursday) Issued at 114 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 By Saturday morning, dry and cooler weather conditions are in store as a surge of cooler airmass pushes from the north resulting in lows around the mid 40s over the Hill Country to mid 50s across the Coastal Plains. Saturday`s highs are forecast to range from the upper 60s to mid 70s. A surface high pressure system over South Central Texas Saturday evening pushes to the east overnight into Sunday and brings back a southerly flow to the local area. With the return flow in place, a warming trend begins on Sunday with forecast highs in the mid to upper 70s to low 80s along the Rio Grande. The warming trend and dry weather conditions continue at least through next Wednesday. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 640 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 Over the next 24 hours, several fast-moving clusters and bands of TSRA/SHRA are expected to move west to east across the region. Activity is forecast to be most numerous between 09Z-21Z. The 00Z TAFs provide a general sketch of the more favored periods for TS, but the main takeaway is that the weather will be quite active. Rounds of more intense TSRA may be separated by SHRA or BR, with broad lowering to IFR CIGs expected tonight. Periods of LIFR CIGs are possible between 09Z-15Z at all TAF sites, but confidence was too low to highlight in the TAFs. Prevailing winds will increase towards gusty northeasterlies at KAUS/KSAT/KSSF, mainly after 17Z with peak gusts occurring around 00Z. Hi-res models suggest gusts of about 28-33 kt are likely. CIGs may slowly improve during the day, especially following the last round of storms in the mid- to late-afternoon, with the slowest improvement at KAUS and vicinity compared to other sites. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Austin Camp Mabry 60 63 53 74 / 90 90 20 0 Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport 61 64 51 73 / 90 100 20 0 New Braunfels Muni Airport 61 66 52 74 / 90 100 10 0 Burnet Muni Airport 56 60 50 71 / 90 100 20 0 Del Rio Intl Airport 65 73 54 74 / 90 90 10 0 Georgetown Muni Airport 59 61 50 72 / 90 100 20 0 Hondo Muni Airport 63 66 50 72 / 90 90 10 0 San Marcos Muni Airport 61 65 52 73 / 90 100 20 0 La Grange - Fayette Regional 63 67 53 73 / 90 100 30 0 San Antonio Intl Airport 63 66 52 73 / 90 90 10 0 Stinson Muni Airport 64 67 54 73 / 90 90 10 0 && .EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Friday evening for TXZ171>173-183>194- 202>209-221-223. && $$ SHORT TERM...17 LONG TERM....17 AVIATION...Tran
- Additional Information:
No
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