Five Die When Cessna 421 Breaks Apart After Pitot Icing Near Texas

Five people were killed when a Cessna 421C broke apart in flight and crashed in a wooded area near Wimberley, Texas, on April 30. The aircraft, registration N291AN, was destroyed upon impact following what investigators describe as an in-flight breakup, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The aircraft departed River Falls Airport in Amarillo, Texas, on an instrument flight rules clearance to New Braunfels National Airport. During the flight, the pilot reported to Houston Center that the aircraft's pitot heat was inoperative and requested an altitude check. As the aircraft descended toward New Braunfels, the pilot informed Austin Approach that the pitot tube was iced up and he was relying on backup gauges, requesting a lower altitude to "warm back up."

According to ADS-B data, the aircraft made erratic maneuvers, including a near 180-degree turn and a descending right turn, before radar contact was lost at 11:03 p.m. CDT. A homeowner reported seeing the wreckage on fire in a wooded area near Round Rock Road shortly after impact. The NTSB noted that debris distribution is consistent with structural failure occurring before ground impact. The investigation continues, with a final determination on probable cause expected to take several months.