# Accident 20250726013969A: Aerotek PITTS S-2A, New Holstein, WI, July 26, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 2025, 10:33 local time
- Place: New Holstein, WI
- Airport: New Holstein Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.9434° N, 88.1126° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9434&lon=-88.1126&mi=10
- Aircraft: N83PS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83PS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerotek PITTS S-2A (registry code 0110201, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-s-2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 series (registry code 41522, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROTEK PITTS S-2A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-360-A1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,308 total, 30 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA287) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250726013969A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JULY 26, 2025, AT 1533Z (1033 CDT), AN AEROTEK PITTS S-2A AIRCRAFT, PILOTED FROM THE REAR SEAT WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT, DIVERTED AFTER TAKEOFF FROM WITTMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT (KOSH), WI, TO THE UNCONTROLLED NEW HOLSTEIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (8D1), WI. THE DIVERSION WAS DUE TO THE CANOPY BECOMING UNLATCHED AND SLIDING BACK TO THE FIRST DETENT POSITION, WHICH, ALTHOUGH APPROVED FOR FLIGHT, INCREASED NOISE LEVELS AND COMPLICATED COMMUNICATION WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. THE FLIGHT WAS INITIALLY DESTINED FOR AUSTIN STRAUBEL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KGRB), WI. UPON LANDING ON DRY CONCRETE RUNWAY 32 AT NEW HOLSTEIN, THE TAILWHEEL PRODUCED AN OSCILLATING SKID MARK FOR 200 FEET, FOLLOWED BY A LEFTWARD ARC FOR ANOTHER 200 FEET, BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED ONTO THE GRASS. THIS RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT MAIN AND TAIL LANDING GEARS, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING AND EMPENNAGE. NO INJURIES SUSTAINED TO THE PILOT AND PASSENGER.

NO ALTERNATE AIRPORT WAS LISTED IN THE FLIGHT PLAN. NO MAINTENANCE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS REQUIRED FOR THE CANOPY, AS IT WAS UNLATCHED AT TAKEOFF.

THE PILOT STATED HE LANDED WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND. METARS FROM SHEBOYGAN COUNTY AIRPORT (KSBM), WI 18 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW HOLSTEIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (8D1), WI; BEFORE AND AFTER THE ACCIDENT AS FOLLOWS:

KSBM 261453Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 25/20 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP149 T02500200 55002

KSBM 261553Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC060 26/21 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP151 T02560206

THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ORIGINALLY HAD A PITTS MAULE TAILWHEEL (PART #: SFS-1-4) WITH AN 18-INCH LEAF SPRING (PART #: 2-2250). THIS CONFIGURATION WAS ALTERED ON JANUARY 6, 1978, WITH A SCOTT 2000 SERIES TAILWHEEL INSTALLED VIA A FIELD APPROVAL. ON APRIL 22, 1984, A NON-FIELD APPROVED MAULE MODEL SFSA WAS INSTALLED. A MODIFICATION TO THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009 IN A MAINTENANCE LOGPAGE ENTRY, WITHOUT SPECIFYING PART NUMBERS. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS FITTED WITH AN UNAPPROVED AVIATION PRODUCTS TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY (PART #: 6134) AND A 21-INCH TAIL SPRING (PART #: 6171). THE ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING A SOLID RUBBER TIRE, 6-INCH DOUBLE FORK, AND 20-DEGREE ATTACH BLOCK, WAS SERVICEABLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD OWNED THE AIRCRAFT FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, HAVING PURCHASED IT ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2024.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN25LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA287), Jul 26, 2025: Aerotek Pitts S-2A (N83PS), New Holstein, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.