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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2026 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Galveston, Texas · Scholes International At Galve · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA145.