Husband and wife identified in deadly East Texas plane crash

Ron Timmermans and his wife, Barbara, were the two people involved in a deadly plane crash in Murchison around 5:13 p.m. Wednesday.

MURCHISON, Texas — Authorities have identified the two people killed in a plane crash in East Texas Wednesday night.

Ron Timmermans and his wife, Barbara, were the two people involved in a deadly plane crash in Murchison around 5:13 p.m. Wednesday. The two owned and operated an aviation company, AileRon T LLC, based in Orlando, Fla. A dog was also onboard the plane and survived the crash.

“Ron Timmermans has provided pro bono service since joining the Florida Aviation Network in 2017,” the Florida Aviation Network said in a statement Thursday. “As a Host for the network, Ron has interviewed numerous aviation professionals and guests at the Sun ’n Fun event at Lakeland, FL thru FAN’s live broadcasts and conducted ad hoc video interviews with professionals at EAA AirVenture, US Sport Aviation Expo, and in various other locations across the US.”

Ron was the recipient of the National Certified Flight Instructor of the Year in 2021 by an awards program associated with the Federal Aviation Administration. He began as an independent flight instructor in 1998 after years spent in aviation, logging more than 4,000 hours of dual instruction given. He instructed at locations throughout Florida, and has roots in North Texas as a flight instructor in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. 

Officials confirmed the couple were involved in Wednesday’s crash, and said the family has been notified.

Ron was particularly well-known for his involvement in the Beechcraft Pilot Proficiency Program and Bonanza Pilot Training program. The Bonanza & Baron Pilot Training website says Ron was inspired by his wife, Barbara, to become a flight instructor. 

According to an early FAA investigation, the two declared an emergency due to oil being the windshield. The plane diverted, impacted power lines and crashed short of the runway in the Brownsboro area. FAA data shows the aircraft was a Beech A36 fixed wing single-engine plane built in 1994.

The National Transportation Safety Board said one of their investigators is expected to arrive by Friday. This investigator will then document the scene and examine the aircraft, which will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.