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 recognized CFI Ron Timmermans and his wife, Barbara, died in a Beechcraft A36 accident on February 11 in East Texas after declaring an emergency due to oil covering the windscreen.
Ron Timmermans was a highly accomplished and respected aviation educator, holding Master CFI and Master Ground Instructor credentials, being named National CFI of the Year in 2021, and inducted into the CFI Hall of Fame in 2022.
The couple was deeply involved in the aviation community, with Ron presenting for AOPA's Rusty Pilot program and instructing for various organizations, making their loss widely mourned for their contributions and kind spirits.

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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.