Aerotek PITTS S-2A N83PS

Summary

On 26 July 2025 at about 15:33 local time, a Aerotek PITTS S-2A registered N83PS was involved in an accident near New Holstein, Wisconsin, United States. 2 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.

Date

26 July 2025 at 15:33

Classification

Accident

Location

New Holstein, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

New Holstein Municipal Airport (8D1)

Coordinates

43.9434, -88.1126

Aircraft

Aerotek PITTS S-2A

Registration

N83PS

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshkosh → New Holstein

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA287

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.