Classic Aircraft CORP WACO YMF and Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG accident near Galveston, Texas, March 24, 2026
On March 24, 2026 at about 3:40 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Classic Aircraft CORP WACO YMF (N43000) and Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG (N351L), were involved in the same accident near Galveston, Texas (Scholes International At Galve airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The biplane pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout while taxiing, which included the failure to perform S-turns to compensate for limited forward visibility.
The biplane pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout while taxiing, which included the failure to perform S-turns to compensate for limited forward visibility.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2026 · about 3:40 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Galveston, Texas · Scholes International At Galve · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Classic Aircraft CORP WACO YMF NO SERIES, built 1994 · all WACO YMFs on the register
- Registration
- N43000 · registry record · serial F5C-060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG NO SERIES, built 2019
- Registration
- N351L · registry record · serial 40.NC051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Classic Aircraft CORP WACO YMF final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor of a single engine low wing airplane were completing a preflight engine run-up in the designated run-up area. The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped biplane after landing was cleared by the tower controller to taxi to the company hangar. The pilot of the biplane stated that while taxiing, he failed to make S-turns to improve his forward visibility due to the tailwheel configuration. The pilot of the biplane reported that he never saw the other airplane until making contact. The flight instructor stated that by the time they saw the biplane, there was not enough time to take evasive action before impact. The low wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and the biplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing and wing struts. Both airplanes’ pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their corresponding airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor of a single engine low wing airplane were completing a preflight engine run-up in the designated run-up area. The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped biplane after landing was cleared by the tower controller to taxi to the company hangar. The pilot of the biplane stated that while taxiing, he failed to make S-turns to improve his forward visibility due to the tailwheel configuration. The pilot of the biplane reported that he never saw the other airplane until making contact. The flight instructor stated that by the time they saw the biplane, there was not enough time to take evasive action before impact. The low wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and the biplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing and wing struts. Both airplanes’ pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their corresponding airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Classic Aircraft CORP WACO YMF from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
- Ground collision during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Towing and taxiing › Taxiing › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,339 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 15.5 in the last 90 days; 8.5 in the last 30 days; 5,198 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 24, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,399 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 2026; 39.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company R-755B2 (piston); 1,734 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGLS Galveston TX at 3:10 pm
- Destination: KGLS Galveston TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from KGLS
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGLS 241452Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/21 A3014 RMK AO1 SLP206 T02280206 52012
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during standing (engine(s) operating)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot of other aircraft
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Pressures/demands › Time/schedule pressure › Ability to respond/compensate
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 385 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 276 as pilot in command; 27 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 9, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,922.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 23, 2026; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,888 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Austro Engine E4-A (piston); 5,923 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGLA Galveston TX at 3:45 pm
- Destination: KBMT Beaumont TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N43000 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N351L | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N43000 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Classic Aircraft Corp WACO YMF 46 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- N351L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company R-755B2 19 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Austro Engine E4-A 291 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Scholes International AT Galveston · nearest airport
- Beaumont Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,063 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,976 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA145.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.