Master CFI and Wife Killed in East Texas Plane Crash

Ron and Barbara Timmermans remembered for their kindness and dedication to aviation.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, February 16, 2026 at 03:30 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Ron and Barbara Timmermans [Credit: Florida Aviation Network]

Key Takeaways:

Nationally known CFI Ron Timmermans and his wife, Barbara, died in an aircraft accident in East Texas on February 11, after declaring an emergency due to oil covering the windscreen.
During the emergency landing, their Beechcraft A36 struck power lines and crashed, killing both occupants, though their dog survived.
Ron Timmermans was a highly respected aviation educator with over 9,000 flight hours, holding Master CFI and MGI credentials, and was inducted into the CFI Hall of Fame in 2022 after being named National CFI of the Year in 2021.
He was widely involved in the aviation community, notably presenting for AOPA's Rusty Pilot program, and was known for his kindness and dedication to aviation education.

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The aviation education community is mourning the deaths of nationally known CFI Ron Timmermans and his wife, Barbara, who were killed in an aircraft accident on February 11.

According to the FAA, the Timmermans were flying over East Texas in their Beechcraft A36 when they declared an emergency shortly before 5:20 p.m. CST, reporting oil suddenly covering the wind screen. During the emergency landing the aircraft struck power lines and hit the ground in a nose-down attitude near Echo Lake Airport (TX40) in Brownsboro, Texas.