# NTSB SEA00LA105: Schmidt SEA REY, N304WW, Northport, WA, June 16, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 16, 2000, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Northport, WA
- Coordinates: 48.930984, -117.769874 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9310&lon=-117.7699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49450
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49450/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA105

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control due to his inadequate remedial action in correcting for engine torque during the aborted landing. Factors include trees near the area where the pilot was attempting to land.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During a go-around from a bounced glassy-water landing, the aircraft rolled to the left because of the force generated by the turbo-charged engine at full power. Although the pilot attempted to roll the aircraft back to a wings-level position, he collided with trees along the shoreline before he was able to stop the left turn that resulted from the torque-induced roll to the left.

## Factual narrative

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N304WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N304WW-2002-06-25), registration cancelled 2002-06-25, S/N 1DK084, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schmidt SEA REY
- Registry model: [Schmidt Stephen F SEA REY](https://openairdocs.org/model/schmidt-stephen-f-sea-rey) (registry code 05607DA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1DK084
- Airframe hours: 67
- Engines: Rotax 914F 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stephen J. Schmidt
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: NONE, NORTHPORT, WA
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,073 total, 67 in this make and model, 4,073 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20000616007109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000616007109A), Jun 16, 2000: Amtr SEARAY, Northport, WA, No damage. (-23) The pilot was attempting a glassy water landing within 75 feet off the shoreline using the shoreline as a surface reference. The aircraft struck the…

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.

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