N304WW

On June 16, 2000, approximately 1000 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Schmidt Sea Rey amphibious airplane, N304WW, collided with trees during a balked landing at Deep Lake, about eight miles southeast of Northport, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed a private airstrip near Northport, about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene.

According to the pilot, he was trying to land on glassy water and bounced the aircraft off the surface of the lake two or three times. Because the landing was not going well, the pilot elected to do a go-around. During the go around, he added full power and the torque from the turbocharged engine began to roll the aircraft to the left. The pilot attempted to roll the aircraft back to a wings-level attitude, but it collided with trees along the shoreline before he could correct for the left turn that resulted from the torque-induced roll.