Classic WACO YMF N43000
24 March 2026 · Galveston, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 24 March 2026 at about 15:40 local time, a Classic WACO YMF registered N43000 was involved in an accident near Galveston, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Galveston, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Scholes International At Galve (KGLS)
- Coordinates
- 29.2659, -94.8568
- Aircraft
- Classic WACO YMF
- Registration
- N43000
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1994
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Galveston → Galveston
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN26LA145
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic WACO YMF NO SERIES | N43000 | - | Substantial |
| Diamond DA 40 NG NO SERIES | N351L | Leadership in Flight Training Academy | Substantial |
Other Classic WACO accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2018 | Classic WACO | North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | Executive Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 2017 | Classic WACO YMF | Hamilton, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 2013 | Classic WACO YMF | Somerville, New Jersey, United States | Singh Meera | No injuries | - |
| 26 Dec 2011 | Classic WACO YMF5 | Marathon, Florida, United States | Conch Air Corp | No injuries | - |
| 16 Nov 2009 | Classic WACO YMF | Dunnellon, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 2006 | Classic WACO YMF | Hagerstown, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 2026 | Cessna 172 | Cleburne, Texas, United States | DGJ TEX LLC DBA | No injuries | - |
| 11 Feb 2026 | Beechcraft A36 | Murchison, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Piper PA-28-180 | Corpus Christi, Texas, United States | Splendid Aviation-Victoria LLC | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 2026 | Piper PA-24-400 | Graham, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Robinson R44 | Mount Blanco, Texas, United States | Concho Aviation LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Feb 2026 | Robinson R66 | Graford, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |