Aerotek PITTS S-2A accident near New Holstein, Wisconsin, July 26, 2025
On July 26, 2025 at about 3:33 pm local time, a 1977 Aerotek PITTS S-2A, registered N83PS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near New Holstein, Wisconsin (New Holstein Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of direction control during landing due to an unapproved tailwheel assembly and tail spring that resulted in a tailwheel shimmy and a subsequent ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2025 · about 3:33 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- New Holstein, Wisconsin · New Holstein Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotek PITTS S-2A, built 1977 · all PITTS S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N83PS · registry record · serial 2143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing on the asphalt runway, with a passenger in the front seat, the airplane had a significant tailwheel shimmy. The pilot attempted to stop the shimmy by lifting the tailwheel off the runway as the airplane continued to decelerate. As the speed decreased, the tailwheel settled back onto the runway and shimmied again, but directional control was maintained. However, the shimmy eventually became more adverse, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. The airplane ground looped to the left, came to rest adjacent to the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. Postaccident examination revealed that an unapproved tailwheel assembly and tail spring were installed. The tailwheel created a negative castor angle and reduced trail, which was exacerbated by the additional weight of the rear occupant, and resulted in the tailwheel shimmy during landing.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Malfunction other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,308 hours in all; 30.6 in this make and model; 42.8 in the last 90 days; 21.1 in the last 30 days; 3,165 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 11, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 550.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,575 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1A (piston); 550 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kosh Oshkosh WI at 3:19 pm
- Destination: 8D1 New Holstein WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14/3, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KSBM, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSBM 261453Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 25/20 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP149 T02500200 55002
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane right side
Photograph 2 – Tail
Photograph 3 – Rear fuselage and tailspring
Photograph 4 – Tailspring and tailwheel assemblyThe 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 4, 2025. 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Aviation Products Tailwheel Information | PDF, 2 pages | 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
- N83PS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aerotek PITTS S-2A 78 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aerotek 133 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1A 3 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- New Holstein Municipal · nearest airport
- Wittman Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Wisconsin 1,619 since 1982 · 225 in the last ten years
- Wisconsin 6,166 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN25LA287.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.