Vickers Spitfire and Canadian Car & Foundry Hurricane accident near Galveston, Texas, April 26, 2008
On April 26, 2008 at about 7:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Vickers Spitfire (N308WK) and Canadian Car & Foundry Hurricane (N96RW), were involved in the same accident near Galveston, Texas (Scholes International Airport). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Hurricane pilot's failure to maintain directional control during roll-out. Contributing to the accident were the restricted forward visibility of the tail-wheel equipped Spitfire, the lack of communication to the other aircraft following the Hurricane, and the limited view of the runway by the airboss.
The Hurricane pilot's failure to maintain directional control during roll-out. Contributing factors were the restricted forward visibility of the tail-wheel equipped Spitfire, the lack of communication to the other aircraft following the Hurricane, and the limited view of the runway by the airboss.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2008 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Galveston, Texas · Scholes International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Vickers Spitfire
- Registration
- N308WK · no longer on the register · serial MK9-TE308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Canadian Car & Foundry Hurricane
- Registration
- N96RW · registry record · serial CCF96
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Vickers Spitfire final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Hurricane and Spitfire, with several other airplanes, had participated in an aerial demonstration for an airshow. During the landing sequence and with aircraft in trail, the lead pilot radioed, "Everyone is going all the way to the end" [of the runway]. It was also noted that its "normal airshow practice" to land on the same side of the runway from which the takeoff was preformed. The Spitfire pilot expected the Hurricane airplane to exit the runway at the end so after landing, he was only applied light braking. The Spitfire pilot reported that during a 3-point landing in the Spitfire forward visibility is restricted. The Hurricane airplane had drifted to the left side of the runway and ground looped and was attempting to return to the right side of the runway then it was struck by the Spitfire. The pilot of the Hurricane reported that "the right brake failed to respond" The Hurricane was equipped with the original style pneumatic brake system and on April 28, 2008 the brakes on the Hurricane were examined. The examination revealed that the airplane’s brake system was still holding pressure. The airplane was then jacked and both wheels turned freely, the brakes were activated together and then separately; no problem with the brakes were noted.
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 Canadian Car & Foundry Hurricane final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Hurricane and Spitfire, with several other airplanes, had participated in an aerial demonstration for an airshow. During the landing sequence and with aircraft in trail, the lead pilot radioed, "Everyone is going all the way to the end" [of the runway]. It was also noted that its "normal airshow practice" to land on the same side of the runway from which the takeoff was preformed. The Spitfire pilot expected the Hurricane airplane to exit the runway at the end so after landing, he was only applied light braking. The Spitfire pilot reported that during a 3-point landing in the Spitfire forward visibility is restricted. The Hurricane airplane had drifted to the left side of the runway and ground looped and was attempting to return to the right side of the runway then it was struck by the Spitfire. The pilot of the Hurricane reported that "the right brake failed to respond" The Hurricane was equipped with the original style pneumatic brake system and on April 28, 2008 the brakes on the Hurricane were examined. The examination revealed that the airplane’s brake system was still holding pressure. The airplane was then jacked and both wheels turned freely, the brakes were activated together and then separately; no problem with the brakes were noted.
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 Vickers Spitfire from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Effect on personnel
- factor Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of operation › Other institution/organization
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 1,025 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 7, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,526 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 2007
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls Royce Merlin 76 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGLS Galveston TX at 5:20 pm
- Destination: Galveston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from KGLS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Canadian Car & Foundry Hurricane from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of operation › Other institution/organization
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,150 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 24, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2007
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls Royce V1650 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame
The flight
- Departed from: KGLS Galveston TX
- Destination: KGLS Galveston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,001 ft by 150 ft
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.