An award-winning pilot and his wife lost their lives in a tragic plane crash in East Texas last week after declaring an emergency landing due to “oil on the windshield,” authorities confirmed.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Beechcraft A36 aircraft struck power lines while diverting to Brownsboro around 5.30 pm on Wednesday. The plane went down short of the runway in Murchison.
Veteran flight instructor among victims
The aircraft was reportedly owned by Ron Timmermans, a respected flight instructor, and his wife Barbara Zimmer. The couple operated Orlando-based aviation company AileRon T LLC.
The Florida Aviation Network (FAN) confirmed the deaths in an internal memo, stating that Timmermans had “Gone West” on February 11, 2026 — a phrase often used in aviation circles to denote a pilot’s passing.
Timmermans was named National Certified Flight Instructor of the Year in 2021 through a programme associated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He was known for training hundreds of pilots and hosting aviation interviews online.
Dog survives crash
In a remarkable turn, the couple’s pet dog, Ziva, who was also on board, survived the crash. Local residents discovered the dog alive at the scene and took it into their care, according to reports.
Photographs from the site showed the aircraft nose-down in the ground with its tail elevated sharply upward.
Investigation underway
The NTSB has launched an investigation into the crash. Officials have retrieved onboard devices that may contain flight data and moved the wreckage to a secure facility for further examination.
Authorities are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding the emergency declaration and subsequent impact.