Cessna 140 accident near Antigo, Wisconsin, February 16, 2026
On February 16, 2026 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1947 Cessna 140, registered N2221V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Antigo, Wisconsin (Langlade County airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2026 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Antigo, Wisconsin · Langlade County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 UNDESIGNAT, built 1947 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2221V · registry record · serial 14452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported that while practicing takeoffs and landings, the airplane touched down to the left of the runway centerline, and the tailwheel bounced a couple times. The pilot receiving instruction attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, he overcorrected to the right. The flight instructor took over flight controls and attempted to correct with left brake and rudder; however, the airplane exited the right side of the runway into deep snow, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. The pilot and instructor both reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,011 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 815 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 24, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 628 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 618 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 16, 2025
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,873.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2025; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Aerospace Technolo C90-12F (piston); 301 hours total
- Operator: Northwoods Gateway Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: AIG Antigo WI at 8:30 pm
- Destination: AIG Antigo WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from AIG
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAIG 162035Z AUTO 30007KT 10SM CLR 09/00 A2982 RMK AO2 T00891003
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 CEN26LA121.