A small plane crashed near Austin late Thursday night, killing all five people on board. Local authorities said emergency crews quickly responded to the scene. Preliminary information showed the aircraft was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact. As a result, the Texas plane crash has triggered a federal investigation.

The Hays County Homeland Security and Emergency Management said first responders reached the crash site soon after the accident. Officials added that early findings pointed to a high-speed impact. However, they have not yet released the identities of the victims. Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the crash.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft was a Cessna 421C. It crashed at about 11:25 p.m. with five people aboard. Flight records showed the plane departed from Amarillo nearly two hours earlier. It was heading to New Braunfels National Airport at the time of the accident.

Meanwhile, air traffic control recordings captured concern from another pilot flying in the area. The pilot said he had not heard from the aircraft. A controller then reported that the plane had started moving erratically before its track disappeared from radar. Therefore, officials began trying to confirm whether the flight was in trouble.

The FAA also said a second aircraft traveling nearby at the time of the crash landed safely in New Braunfels. In addition, another pilot reported that the troubled plane’s emergency locator device sent out a distress signal. According to the National Weather Service, skies were mostly cloudy before the crash, while thunderstorms developed about two hours later.

The crash happened near Wimberley, a small town in the Texas Hill Country known for tourism and hiking. Mayor Jim Chiles said early Friday that he had no further details. In the end, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation as officials search for answers after the Texas plane crash.