The World War Two fighter aircraft plummeted into the ground at Biggin Hill Airport, south east London, this afternoon.
The single-seater plane is believed to have lost power after takeoff and the pilot was forced to perform a dramatic emergency landing.
The "very experienced" former RAF pilot has been taken to hospital wth a shoulder injury – it is not thought to be serious.
A spokesman for Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar said: "There was a loss of engine power during takeoff this afternoon and the pilot had to make a forced landing.
"The aircraft landed in the borders of the airport and is badly damaged. We will repair it, but it is expected to be out of action for at least the rest of the year."
In the very same afternoon a plane burst into a ball of flames after crashing at Chris Evans' CarFest festival – in front of over 10,000 distraught children.
Yesterday Osama Bin Laden's step-mum, sister and brother-in-law were all killed when the plane they were in burst into flames after overshooting a runway in Hampshire.